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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Terrorists granted paid accounts, blue checks on X: Report
U.S.-sanctioned terrorist organizations appear to be enjoying the perks of paid, premium accounts and verified blue check marks on the social media platform X, a potential violation of U.S. sanctions, according to a report published Thursday. The social media giant has accepted payments from individuals who appear to be affiliated with Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the Hamas militant group, among others, for paid accounts in a move strictly prohibited by the U.S. government, said the Tech Transparency Project, a research organization that seeks to hold big tech companies accountable. 'The findings add to questions, first raised by [Tech Transparency Project] in February 2024, about X's adherence to sanctions designed to protect U.S. national interests, even as the company maintains it has a 'robust and secure' approach to its monetization features,' the report reads. People or groups sanctioned by the U.S. government are prohibited from engaging in transactions with U.S. companies, per the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. X's terms of service states that the company is aligned with these restrictions and premium membership will not be granted to anyone sanctioned by the OFAC. However, multiple U.S.-deemed terrorist organizations sanctioned by the OFAC have X Premium or blue check verified accounts, the report said. Approval for blue check marks is granted only after the company exercises due diligence and individually verifies the account. Prior to Musk's purchase of X, formerly known as Twitter, individuals procured blue check marks, or verification, for free, after the company had verified the account. But Musk instituted a pay-to-play approach in 2023, which drew the ire of many users and ushered in a new era in which premium features could be accessed only by spending money. X Premium currently costs $8 per month, while X Premium+ costs $40 per month. Users must purchase one of the two to qualify for verification, which yields a blue check mark. Accounts are given the status bump 'after a review to ensure subscribed accounts meet all eligibility criteria,' according to X's website. U.S.-sanctioned terrorist organizations do not qualify for such services on paper, as OFAC strictly prohibits any transactions whatsoever between such entities and U.S. companies. 'These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person,' OFAC said in a 2023 release. VA staff told to reply to Musk's 'What did you do last week' email In November 2019, OFAC reached a settlement with Apple after the company disclosed that a Slovenian software company that violated Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions Regulations was peddling applications through its app store. OFAC reduced the cost of the fine, based on the fact that Apple had informed the Treasury Department about the problem of its own volition, and the tech giant ended up paying nearly $467,000. Tech Transparency Project's new report comes more than a year after it published a report detailing how X accepted payments for premium accounts that appeared to be linked to U.S.-sanctioned groups, specifically Hezbollah, among others. X removed check marks from the accounts described in that report after it was published, according to the Tech Transparency Project. But the group's new report claims X has not upheld that brief standard of account policing, as many other U.S.-sanctioned groups appear to have since slipped through the cracks and secured premium accounts or verification, while other previous offenders appear to have reupped their membership to X by creating a new account after their previous one was banned. Some sanctioned parties can make money from the social media platform through a 'tips' function, the report said. Several key figures from U.S.-sanctioned terrorist organizations were given access to X's premium services and benefits, the report claims. Mahdi al-Mashat, chairman of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, was granted blue check verification a month after OFAC announced sanctions against him for purchasing and smuggling weapons for Houthis, said the Tech Transparency Project. Subhi Tufayli, a Hezbollah founder, was given blue check verification in October 2023, the same month Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. The account is branded with an 'ID verified' badge, which can only be attained through a vetting process that requires a government-issued ID and a selfie. OFAC sanctions against Tufayli began in 1995 for his role as a senior figure in Hezbollah, the report said. Some accounts even reportedly made money through X, the report claims. Gaza Now, a media outlet sanctioned in 2024 for its affiliation with Hamas, runs an alias account according to the OFAC, as reported by the Tech Transparency Project. While the official Gaza Now X account no longer boasts a blue check mark, according to the report, the alias account was given a verification check in June 2024 after U.S. sanctions were announced. Despite OFAC labeling Gaza Now as an entity engaged in 'fundraising efforts to support Hamas,' the alias account utilizes a subscribe button, which allows it to raise money. Only X Premium users have access to this feature, which requires an application, according to the report. X receives a portion of a premium user's subscription earnings.
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First Post
20-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Are Al Qaeda and other terror groups in US paying X for blue ticks?
A new investigation by the Tech Transparency Project, a nonprofit watchdog of major tech companies, has found that Elon Musk's platform X has been receiving subscription payments from individuals and groups designated as terrorists by the United States. Those reportedly paying for X's services include an Al-Qaeda adviser, a Hezbollah founder, the leader of an Iraqi militia accused of targeting US troops, and a senior Houthi official read more According to the group, more than 200 accounts tied to terrorist or sanctioned organisations in the US have bought blue tick subscriptions on X. Reuters/File Photo Elon Musk's social media platform X has been accepting subscription fees from groups and individuals that are designated as terrorists by the United States, a new report has found. The Tech Transparency Project , a nonprofit that monitors big tech firms, carried out the investigation. It said X continued to collect payments from accounts that seemed to belong to leaders of Hezbollah and officials from the Houthi group. The study said those paying for X's services include an Al-Qaeda adviser, a Hezbollah founder, the head of an Iraqi militia accused of attacking US troops, and a senior Houthi official. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | Did Tesla try to replace Elon Musk behind the scenes? According to the group, more than 200 accounts tied to terrorist or sanctioned organisations in the US have bought blue tick subscriptions on X. In this explainer, we break down what the investigation found, who such subscribers are, and how the platform is being used to raise funds. Let's take a look: What the study reveals The Tech Transparency Project found that over 200 accounts on Elon Musk's platform X, including those linked to Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and militia groups in Syria and Iraq, organisations the US government lists as foreign terrorist groups, are paying for subscriptions. This raises concerns because the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) bars American companies from doing business with people or groups under US sanctions, unless specifically authorised. Notably, X's own rules state that users under OFAC sanctions are not allowed to access its premium features. It said X continued to collect payments from accounts that seemed to belong to leaders of Hezbollah and officials from the Houthi group. Reuters/File Photo Despite this, the study found that many of these accounts had an 'ID verified' label, according to a report by The Independent. This badge is given after users upload a government ID and a selfie, which X then uses to confirm their identity. Several of these users also made use of X's features that allow them to receive money, such as a tip button. The platform, which was earlier known as Twitter, once gave blue checkmarks to notable people. After Elon Musk took over, he turned it into a paid feature. Users now pay to access premium services like higher visibility in search results, the ability to edit posts, and the option to upload longer videos. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As the investigation shows, over 200 accounts linked to terrorist and sanctioned groups in the US have paid for these blue ticks. These transactions come at a time when Musk is also heading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in the Trump administration to reduce the size of the federal workforce. In February, Musk criticised the Treasury Department for lacking 'basic controls' to prevent payments from reaching terrorist groups or people not meant to receive them. ALSO READ | Video games, White House stays & mass firings: Inside Elon Musk's time at Doge What are some of these accounts? X says that premium accounts receive a checkmark only after a review to make sure 'subscribed accounts meet all eligibility criteria'. Some of the accounts found by the Tech Transparency Project could belong to impersonators. However, several had an 'ID verified' label, which is only given after the user submits a selfie and an official ID. One such account appears to belong to Subhi Tufayli, a founder of Hezbollah and the group's first secretary general. He has been on the US sanctions list since 1995. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His 'ID verified' account, active since October 2023, has over 40,700 followers and regularly posts half-hour videos of his sermons, according to The New York Times. An account linked to Yemen's Houthi rebels had a blue tick at one point, but X removed the badge last year after the first Tech Transparency Project report. These transactions come at a time when Musk is also heading the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Reuters/File Photo Still, a new report by the group said that at least five senior Houthi officials later appeared to pay for checkmarks on X. These accounts, with more than 820,000 followers combined, include one under the name Hussain al-Ezzi, identified as a deputy foreign minister for the Houthis, who publicly asked Musk to let the group get verified again. Some of these accounts also used X to raise funds. They either made use of X's tipping and subscription tools or asked followers to send funds through cryptocurrency links. Katie Paul, who leads the Tech Transparency Project, told The New York Times, 'There is clear evidence of these groups profiting and fundraising through X.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Paul further said, 'They are sanctioned for a reason, and the fact that somebody who has such influence and power in the federal government is at the same time profiting from these designated terrorist groups and individuals is extremely concerning." What happened after the organisation's first report? In February last year, the Tech Transparency Project first raised concerns about sanctioned groups using premium services on X. On the same day, X's Safety account responded directly to the report, saying the platform 'has a robust and secure approach in place for our monetisation features, adhering to legal obligations, along with independent screening by our payments providers.' Just hours after the report came out, X removed the checkmarks from all the accounts mentioned and later suspended many of them. However, according to The New York Times, within a month, several of these accounts managed to buy the blue badges again and have kept them since.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invertir $200 en Amazon CFD podría devolverte un segundo salario 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. Live Events 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.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah leaders among terrorists who pay Elon Musk for X subscriptions, study finds
High-ranking members of designated terrorist groups in the U.S. are among those who pay Elon Musk for X subscriptions, a study has found. Included in the group are an Al-Qaeda advisor, one of the founders of Hezbollah, the leader of a militia group in Iraq known to attack American troops, and a top official with the Houthi rebels, according to the investigation by the Tech Transparency Project. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) enforces regulations that forbid American companies from taking part in transactions with people or entities the U.S. government has sanctioned unless licensed or authorized by the government. X's policies say that its premium benefits cannot be used by users who are under OFAC sanctions. However, the Tech Transparency Project found several terrorists and others under sanctions who have premium blue checkmark accounts on X. A number of these accounts also had a badge stating that they had been 'ID verified,' which means that X has confirmed their identity after they sent in a government-issued ID and a selfie to the social media platform. Multiple users used money-generating features put forward by X, such as a button to receive tips. In February last year, the Tech Transparency Project initially raised questions regarding sanctioned groups' use of premium services on X. Just hours after the initial report was released, X removed checkmarks from all the accounts cited in the report and subsequently suspended many of those accounts. The X Safety account said in a post the same day, directly responding to the report, that the platform 'has a robust and secure approach in place for our monetization features, adhering to legal obligations, along with independent screening by our payments providers.' 'Several of the accounts listed in the Tech Transparency Report are not directly named on sanction lists, while some others may have visible account check marks without receiving any services that would be subject to sanctions,' they added. 'Our teams have reviewed the report and will take action if necessary. We're always committed to ensuring that we maintain a safe, secure and compliant platform.' Even so, the new investigation conducted between November 2024 and April 2025 by the Tech Transparency Project found many checkmarks on accounts seemingly held by individuals sanctioned by the U.S. Several appeared to have resubscribed to premium services or created new accounts. The platform, formerly known as Twitter, previously distributed checkmarks to verify notable figures; however, after Musk took over the company, he made it a paid product and encouraged users to buy a premium subscription to access such services. X's transactions with people sanctioned by the U.S. government come as Musk has been leading President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency to slash the federal workforce. Musk, who has since stepped back from the day-to-day running of DOGE, criticised the Treasury Department in February for not having 'basic controls' to track payments and to make sure they don't end up in the hands of terrorists and other recipients the payments weren't intended for. Musk said that such controls are used by 'any company' as he appeared alongside Trump in the Oval Office. X's rules state that users must be subscribed to X Premium or Premium+ to get a blue checkmark. At $8 per month or $84 per year, X Premium is significantly cheaper than Premium+, which costs $40 per month or $395 per year. To become a verified organization, you can either choose the Basic option for $200 per month or $2,000 per year, or the Full Access option for $1,000 per month or $10,000 per year. X states that premium accounts can get a checkmark 'after a review to ensure subscribed accounts meet all eligibility criteria.' However, the platform does clarify that users under U.S. sanctions, including OFAC sanctions, cannot use the premium service. Subscribers to the premium service can edit posts, post longer texts, and create 'communities' focused on specific issues. Premium users can also earn a portion of ad revenue and charge subscription fees. The Independent has contacted X for comment.
Engadget
15-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
X is once again selling checkmarks to US sanctioned groups, report says
X has once again been accepting payments from people associated with terrorist groups and other entities subject to US sanctions, according to a new report from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP). According to the report, X has not only accepted payments in exchange for its premium service, but in some cases has provided an "ID verified" badge. The report once again questions whether X is complying with US sanctions that restrict companies' ability to do business with individuals and entities that have been deemed a security threat. Last year, the TTP published a similar report that identified more than two dozen verified accounts that were affiliated with sanctioned groups, including leaders of Hezbollah and accounts associated with Houthis in Yemen. Many of those checkmarks were subsequently revoked, with X promising to "maintain a safe, secure and compliant platform." But some of those accounts simply "resubscribed" to X's premium service or created fresh accounts, according to the report, which is based on research between November 2024 and April 2025. "TTP's new investigation found an array of blue checkmark accounts for U.S.-sanctioned individuals and organizations, including several that appeared to simply re-subscribe to premium service or create new accounts after their old ones were restricted or removed by X," the report says. "Moreover, some of the accounts were 'ID verified,' meaning X conducted an additional review to confirm their identity." The report once again highlights verified accounts associated with members of Hezbollah, including one of its founders, as well as Houthi officials who "are making heavy use of X for messaging and propaganda." The son of Libyan dictator Muammar Gadhafi, whose account was previously suspended, also currently has a blue check , as does Raghad Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti, one of Saddam Hussein's daughters. Both have been under sanctions for more than a decade. X didn't respond to a request for comment on the report. In response to last year's report, the company said it would "take action if necessary." However, it's unclear if the company changed any of its practices regarding who can pay for premium subscriptions. 'If a small team can use X's public facing search tools to identify these accounts, it's unclear why a multi-billion-dollar company cannot do the same,' Michelle Kuppersmith, the executive director for Campaign for Accountability, the watchdog group that runs TTP said in a statement. 'It's one thing to allow terrorists to have a voice on the platform; it's another entirely to allow them to pay for a more effective megaphone.'
