Shocking study reveals Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah leaders are among verified X subscribers paying Elon Musk's platform monthly fees
A new study found that some terrorists are paying for
X premium subscriptions
as per reports. This includes an Al-Qaeda advisor, a Hezbollah founder, an Iraqi militia leader, and a top Houthi rebel official.
The study was done by the Tech Transparency Project. This sanction list says that American companies can not do any business with these people who are on the list, unless approved by the U.S. government.
According to the report by Independent, the U.S. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control manages these sanctions. X has a rule that premium features shouldn't be available to people under OFAC sanctions.
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But the study found several sanctioned people still had paid accounts with blue checkmarks on X. Some accounts even had 'ID verified' badges, which means they sent ID and selfie to X and got approved. Some of these users also used money-making features on X, like tips.
In February 2024, Tech Transparency Project had first pointed this out. After that report, X removed checkmarks and suspended many accounts mentioned. X's Safety team responded, saying they follow legal rules and have independent payment checks.
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They also said some accounts listed by the report aren't directly on sanction lists or didn't use services that break rules. X said their team would review and take action if needed.
However, many such accounts are back and some with even new checkmarks or new accounts, found in a new investigation, as mentioned in the Independent report. The blue checkmark used to be free for important people, but after Elon Musk took over, it became paid.
Musk pushed people to buy subscriptions to access features like longer posts, editing, money from ads, and community groups.
X Premium
costs $8 per month or $84 per year, Premium Plus is $40 per month or $395 per year. Organizations can also pay more, from $200 to $10,000 per year, to be verified.
Musk is also involved in President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE is working on cutting down government jobs.
Musk recently blamed the Treasury Department for not having 'basic controls' to stop money from going to terrorists. He said 'any company' has better systems than the government. Musk said this while sitting with Trump in the Oval Office.
X says users under U.S. sanctions can't use premium, but the study shows that's not fully working.
FAQs
Q1. Can terrorists use paid X accounts?
U.S. rules say they cannot, but some still do, as the study found.
Q2. Who checks if X follows U.S. sanctions?
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control handles that.
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