Title: X Continues to Accept Payments from Sanctioned Groups, Sparking Controversy
More than a year after initial warnings, Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, remains under scrutiny for allegedly accepting subscription payments from entities linked to terrorist organizations and other individuals barred from doing business in the U.S. A new report from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) highlights that X is still processing payments for accounts associated with groups such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and militia leaders in Syria and Iraq.
The subscription service, costing $8 monthly, grants users blue check marks along with perks like increased visibility in X’s algorithm, the ability to edit posts, and options for longer video sharing. While initial concerns led X to revoke verification from some accounts last year, many were able to re-acquire blue check marks soon after.
According to TTP, over 200 accounts linked to sanctioned entities have maintained their verified status on X, raising flags about the platform’s compliance with U.S. sanctions. Katie Paul, director of TTP, noted that these accounts don’t just seek notoriety but leverage premium features for propaganda.
Elon Musk, who has made significant changes since purchasing X in 2022—including overhauling the verification system—has criticized the Treasury Department. He claimed that robust controls to prevent payments to terrorist groups should exist in any company. However, despite X’s policies prohibiting such groups from obtaining verification, these accounts often appear "ID verified," suggesting serious lapses in the identity verification process.
One highlighted account belongs to Subhi Tufayli, a founding member of Hezbollah, currently on the Treasury’s sanctions list since 1995. Despite prior removals, recent reports indicate that several sanctioned officials, including those from the Houthis, have successfully reacquired blue check marks, prompting further calls for governmental scrutiny. The combination of Musk’s influence and the platform’s operations has raised significant concerns about compliance with U.S. sanctions.
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