A troubling new report suggests that X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, may be violating U.S. sanctions by granting premium services and verified status to accounts linked to terrorist organizations.
The Tech Transparency Project (TTP), a watchdog group focused on holding Big Tech accountable, released findings Thursday showing that sanctioned terrorist entities, including Iran-backed Houthi rebels and members of the Hamas militant group, have gained access to X’s paid services and the coveted blue check mark.
According to the report, these organizations have secured X Premium accounts—services that require monthly payments of $8 to $40—despite being blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
These transactions potentially constitute a direct violation of federal sanctions that bar U.S. companies from providing services to designated terrorist entities.
Here's What They're Not Telling You About Your Retirement
“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.
Under OFAC regulations, it is illegal for U.S. companies or citizens to conduct any form of business with individuals or organizations listed under U.S. sanctions.
This includes not only direct payments but also the exchange of goods or services. X’s own terms of service explicitly state that premium membership will not be granted to anyone sanctioned by OFAC.
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
Despite these rules, the report highlights that multiple accounts linked to OFAC-sanctioned groups have obtained verification and paid status on X. This raises serious questions about the platform’s compliance efforts and the effectiveness of its internal verification systems.
Approval for the blue check, a marker of verification on the platform, is not automatically granted. It requires a manual review process intended to confirm the legitimacy and eligibility of an account.
This system was once a hallmark of authenticity, bestowed without payment after identity and notability were confirmed. But since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform, the verification model has shifted dramatically.
In 2023, Musk moved X to a subscription-based model, essentially turning verification into a pay-to-play system. Users must now subscribe to X Premium or X Premium+—at $8 or $40 per month, respectively—to receive a blue check.
According to X, accounts are verified “after a review to ensure subscribed accounts meet all eligibility criteria.”
Still, if the Tech Transparency Project’s findings are accurate, the platform's oversight may be significantly flawed.
The verification process, under the current model, should have flagged and denied applications from accounts tied to terrorist organizations.
That it didn’t has sparked bipartisan concern among lawmakers and policy analysts focused on national security and digital accountability.
“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 explained in a 2023 statement.
Critics argue that this situation highlights the perils of a monetization model that lacks sufficient guardrails.
Allowing sanctioned individuals or entities to pay for and benefit from platform features not only violates U.S. law but potentially gives these actors a broader platform for propaganda, recruitment, and fundraising.
While X has yet to issue a formal response to the TTP report, it previously stated that it maintains systems designed to prevent abuse of its premium services.
Whether these systems were bypassed, overlooked, or simply failed remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that the credibility of X’s commitment to legal compliance and responsible governance is under serious scrutiny.
As the digital age blurs the lines between free speech, commerce, and national security, this incident underscores the growing importance of corporate accountability in tech.
The coming days may see calls for congressional hearings or further regulatory scrutiny of X’s operations—especially given the platform’s global reach and influence in public discourse.
For now, the report shines a harsh light on how monetization without adequate oversight can lead to unintended, and potentially dangerous, consequences.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.