Archive · 22 Sep 2026
X Expands Transparency Tool to Reveal Government-Ordered Restrictions
X is adding more information about how it limits the visibility of posts.
Users may be told when their posts are shadowbanned or downranked.
Shadowbanning means a post can be made less visible without being removed completely.
Downranking means a post is shown lower or less often.
X will also explain when local laws require it to restrict a post.
The information will appear in a downloadable file.
Users must have posted at least 10 times during the month to access aggregate statistics.
X says the changes are meant to make its moderation decisions easier to understand.
X will show users when posts or accounts are shadowbanned, downranked, or otherwise restricted.
The tool will identify visibility limits caused by government-required content filtering and local laws.
Users will be able to see details about posts withheld in a country after a legal notification.
The expanded information will be available in downloadable JSON files for users who posted at least 10 times during the month.
X launched the Under the Hood tool in August and has also open-sourced parts of its recommendation algorithm and codebase.
- Who
- X and users who post on the platform.
- What
- X is expanding its Under the Hood tool to disclose shadowbans, downranking, and restrictions required by local laws.
- When
- The expansion is planned for soon; X launched the original tool in August.
- Where
- On the X platform, including restrictions affecting posts in particular countries.
- Why
- To give users more visibility into moderation decisions and government-required content filtering.
- Tool
- Under the Hood
- New disclosures
- Shadowbans, downranking, account or post labels, and legal restrictions
- Government restrictions
- The tool will identify visibility limits caused by local laws or required content filtering.
- Country withholding
- Files will include details about posts withheld in a country following a legal notification.
- Access requirement
- Users must have posted at least 10 times during the month.
- File format
- Aggregate statistics are available as a downloadable JSON file.