Terrorists still able to pay for check marks and boost visibility on X

Just like before, terrorist organizations and their members sanctioned by the US can still pay for perks within the monthly subscription of X, a social network owned by American businessman Elon Musk.

The famous blue check mark, previously limited to notable users like celebrities, politicians, or journalists, is for quite some time now available to everyone who pays for a monthly 8$ subscription to X.

The perks include more prominent placement in X’s algorithm, the ability to edit posts, and the option to share lengthier videos. Pay a few bucks each month and satisfy your vanity, in other words.

Unfortunately (although predictably), the opportunities are abused by terrorist organizations and other groups banned from doing business in the US.

Already a year ago, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) reported that X had granted paid blue check marks to 28 accounts belonging to entities subject to US sanctions. The company reacted by stripping badges from some and suspending other accounts.

But soon, most of these accounts bought the subscriptions again, and they’re still active. According to the TTP, more than 200 accounts linked to terrorist organizations and other sanctioned groups have bought blue check marks.

These include, for example, an advisor to a terrorist group, Al Qaeda, one of the founders of Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon, and the head of an Iraqi militia group known for attacks on American troops.

And these are only accounts not engaged in masking their owners’ true identity. Numerous profiles operated by Russian or Chinese state agencies have also bought blue check marks to spread anti-American propaganda on X.

“They rely on the premium services for the amplification of long propaganda posts and extended videos,” Katie Paul, the director of the TTP, told The New York Times.

“They are not just subscribing for the blue check notoriety, they are subscribing for the premium services.”

Regulations enforced by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) prohibit American companies from engaging in transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities unless they are licensed or otherwise authorized by the government.

X’s policies explicitly state that its premium services are off limits to users subject to OFAC sanctions.

But some of the aforementioned accounts even had an “ID verified” badge. It means that X confirmed their identity after they submitted a government-issued ID and a selfie to the company. Other accounts used revenue-generating features such as adding a button for tips.

It’s somewhat ironic that X owner Musk – who leads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency – attacked the Treasury in February for not doing enough to ensure that various payments don’t end up lining the terrorists’ pockets.