Claims report says Elon Musk’s X allowed terrorist groups to buy blue ticks

The report says that more than a dozen U.S.-sanctioned entities have X accounts with blue check marks

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has come under scrutiny for allegedly providing subscriptions and verification to designated terrorist groups that are banned from operating in the United States.according to British Broadcasting Corporationthe nonprofit Technology Transparency Project (TTP) found that X has been awarded a blue check mark
Two leaders of a U.S.-designated terrorist organization and several other groups subject to U.S. sanctions. government.

The report said more than a dozen X accounts from U.S.-sanctioned entities carry blue checkmarks that require the purchase of premium subscriptions. Notably, X offers several perks for premium accounts, including the ability to post longer texts and videos and increased visibility. The regulator identified 28 accounts, 18 of which received verification status after April 1, 2023.

Two of the accounts identified by TTP apparently belong to senior leaders of Lebanese Hezbollah, while others belong to Iranian and Russian state media outlets. The fact that X requires users to pay a monthly or annual fee for premium services indicates that X is using these accounts to conduct financial transactions, which may violate U.S. sanctions. ” TTP said in the report.

NEW: According to new research from TTP, X is providing premium services to leaders of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations and other sanctioned entities.

This arrangement may violate sanctions laws. https://t.co/yt1OI6t70Npic.twitter.com/77gmaAPCgu

— Technology Transparency Project (@TTP_updates) February 14, 2024

“A blue checkmark account with the name and profile picture of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah also indicates that the account has been ‘authenticated,’ which X offers to premium subscribers a service as a way to prevent impersonation,” the report further states.

6) The account of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said it was authenticated by X – a service only available to X Premium subscribers. This requires the user to send a selfie. X Can you confirm if you have received the selfie from Nasrallah? pic.twitter.com/jKlyzVVypz

— Technology Transparency Project (@TTP_updates) February 14, 2024

“Two other accounts for U.S.-sanctioned entities, Iran News Television and Russia’s Tinkov Bank, both carry gold checkmarks. The gold checkmark indicates that the account is a “verified organization,” at the time of the TTP study, The monthly fee is $1,000,” the report added.

5) The X accounts for both gold check entities (PressTV and Tinkoff Bank) contain links to their websites, which are explicitly listed in the OFAC database. Both retain high-cost gold checks. https://t.co/7oXXEi9bQY

— Technology Transparency Project (@TTP_updates) February 14, 2024

The TTP claims that accounts run by Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, appear to be paying for its blue checkmarks.

In response to the accusations, X’s security team defended its “robust and secure approach” to its monetization capabilities. “Several accounts listed in the Technical Transparency Report are not directly listed on the sanctions list, while others may have visible account checkmarks but are not receiving any services that may be subject to sanctions,” it tweeted. Our team has reviewed the report and will take action if necessary.”

X formulated a stable and secure method for our monetary functions, obey legal obligations, and independently screen for our payment providers. Several accounts listed in the Technology Transparency Report are not directly listed on the sanctions list, while… https://t.co/jgEzkNcFqj

— Safety (@Safety) February 14, 2024

X has now removed the blue checkmarks from groups named in the report, including those of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.