X has expanded its transparency features to help users understand why their posts may not be reaching as many people as expected. The platform’s updated “Under the Hood” tool can now disclose when an account or post has had its visibility restricted because of local laws or government-related legal requests.

The update could offer some clarity to users who have long suspected that their content was being shadowbanned without a clear explanation. Eligible users can now access more specific information about certain government-required restrictions, including the country associated with the request and the posts affected.

Rather than leaving users to guess why their content has lost visibility, X is giving them another way to examine what happened behind the scenes.

X’s Under the Hood Tool Adds Country-Specific Restriction Details

The expanded feature builds on X’s transparency system, introduced in August, which provides information about account and post labels, along with other factors that can influence content distribution.

With the latest update, the tool can also indicate whether X restricted the visibility of a post or account to comply with a government request or local law.

For users, one of the most significant additions is the ability to identify posts withheld in a particular country following a legal demand. The report can also specify the country connected to the request, offering a more detailed explanation than general government-request figures published in platform transparency reports.

The information is available through a downloadable JSON file. Access to X’s Under The Hood reporting system is subject to certain activity requirements, including having posted at least 10 times during the relevant month.

Can X’s New Feature Finally Explain Shadowban Claims?

For years, users have used the term “shadowban” to describe situations in which their posts appear to receive less visibility without an obvious explanation.

However, a decline in views or engagement does not automatically mean that X has deliberately restricted an account. Content reach can change for several reasons, including recommendation algorithms, ranking systems, platform rules and legal requirements.

X already acknowledges that it can limit the discoverability of content in certain circumstances, including when posts violate its rules or when the company receives a valid legal request from an authorised entity.

The problem for users has often been identifying which, if any, of these factors affected their content.

The expanded Under The Hood tool provides a more direct way to investigate certain restrictions. However, it does not guarantee that every unexplained drop in reach will come with a government-related explanation.

Instead, it gives users access to another piece of information that may help distinguish a legal restriction from other reasons their content is receiving less attention.

Why Governments Can Request Restrictions on X Posts

Government-related content restrictions can stem from different laws and regulations, depending on the country involved.

Authorities may seek restrictions on content relating to hate speech, terrorism-related material, election regulations or other areas covered by local legislation.

When X receives a valid legal request from an authorised entity, it may take action on the relevant content within the applicable jurisdiction.

These restrictions can become particularly contentious when countries have significantly different laws governing online speech. Free-expression groups have raised concerns that some government demands may affect political dissent and the ability of users to express their views online.

However, the existence of a government-related restriction does not, by itself, establish that a request was politically motivated or that every such restriction involves an infringement of free expression.

By identifying the country associated with certain legal restrictions, X’s updated tool gives users more context about why their content may have become unavailable or less visible in a particular location.

How to Check If X Restricted Your Posts

Eligible users can access the Under The Hood reporting system through X’s settings and download their account data in JSON format.

The file contains structured information rather than a traditional, easy-to-read report. Users unfamiliar with JSON files may need suitable software to examine the information or an AI chatbot to help interpret its contents.

Where the relevant data is available, users can check whether X restricted their posts or account to comply with local laws, identify the affected posts and find the country associated with the request.

The update does not explain every possible reason behind declining post reach. However, it gives users a more specific way to investigate government-related visibility restrictions, making it easier to understand when local legal requirements have played a role in limiting the distribution of their content.

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