Buterin Warns X’s New Location Feature Is “Risky” as Crypto Users Sound Privacy Alarms
People are upset with the social media site X (formerly Twitter) for adding a that shows users’ nationalities to everyone. The upgrade, rolled out worldwide on November 22, displays users’ location data on their profiles without their permission and doesn’t let them opt out at launch.
The move provoked a swift and strong outcry, especially from the cryptocurrency community and privacy activists, who say the policy puts private user information at risk and poses new .
Vitalik Buterin Rings the Alarm
Vitalik Buterin, one of ETH’s co-founders, led the criticism. He that even small amounts of location data can put users at risk, especially those with a lot of crypto or those living in countries with strict rules.
Buterin said that the benefits of transparency do not exceed the harms of violating privacy, and that imposing information without user choice is like “retroactive rugpull” on privacy. He pointed out that people who are at risk of reprisal, harassment, or kidnapping could be in genuine danger in the real world if their location is made public without their permission.
Buterin also that advanced criminals may simply spoof their country of origin by renting passports, SIM cards, and . He thought this would make the service useless for countering organized trolling or misinformation campaigns, while leaving real users open to attack.
He warned that this would lead to a situation in which “malicious actors can hide, while innocent users are exposed,” undermining the integrity X aims to build.
Privacy Issues for Crypto Users
The industry, which generally values privacy and security, is particularly concerned about the risks of being forced to disclose its location. There have been targeted attacks and kidnappings in the past that were tied to owning cryptocurrency, which makes the stakes quite high.
Crypto luminaries like , the inventor of Uniswap, have joined Buterin in speaking out against X’s necessary update. They say that opt-in features respect user choice, but compulsory disclosure is a significant infringement.
X Answers, But the Debate Goes On
X’s head of product enhanced privacy controls for users in critical areas in response to growing criticism. But many people in the community say this measure doesn’t address the largeger privacy issue of having to disclose your whereabouts.
The argument also brings up earlier promises made by X’s founders, who said they would preserve users’ identities to keep them secure from persecution or physical violence. This commitment is now at odds with the platform’s current decision.
Experts In The Field Talk About The largeger Picture
The argument shows that there is growing tension between social media companies that want more openness and groups that value privacy above all else.
Buterin and other experts say it will be hard to resolve this disagreement because platforms are facing increasing securety and regulatory demands, while the crypto world opposes any loss of personal data rights. For now, the issue highlights a key moment in internet privacy as users reconsider how platforms handle private data.
