X Will Notify Users When Government Demands Limit Their Posts

X is expanding its “Under the Hood” transparency tool to tell users when their posts have been shown to fewer people or withheld because of local laws and government demands. The update includes visibility into government-required content filtering and can show which country made the request. The feature builds on an earlier tool that showed labels applied to accounts or posts that could affect visibility.

The “Under the Hood” option in X app settings lets eligible users download aggregate stats as a JSON file. TechCrunch reports the tool is available to anyone who has posted at least 10 times during the month. X says the same process will now show when an account or posts had visibility limited because the company complied with local laws.

Most companies typically share government request data in aggregate transparency reports rather than at the account or post level. X’s update gives users a more direct view into whether a specific post was withheld in a country after a legal demand. That could help users distinguish between platform moderation decisions and restrictions tied to government requirements.

Governments cite a range of reasons for content demands, including hate speech laws, terrorism-related content, and election rules. Critics, including free-expression groups, say some countries also use these laws to suppress political dissent. For users, the key takeaway is to review “Under the Hood” data when post visibility changes and look for country-specific withholding information.