More than a year after initial warnings, Elon Musk's social media platform Twitter continues to accept payments for premium subscription accounts, including the associated blue check marks , from terrorist organizations and other entities under US sanctions, says a report in New York Times. The report cites a new report by the Tech Transparency Project , a nonprofit focused on technology company accountability, which found that Twitter has continued to receive payments from accounts apparently linked to leaders within Hezbollah, Houthi officials, and militia leaders in Syria and Iraq. These subscriptions, costing $8 monthly, provide users with a blue check mark – previously reserved for notable figures – along with benefits such as enhanced algorithm placement, post editing capabilities, and the ability to share longer videos.
The NYT report notes that following a previous report by the Tech Transparency Project last year, which identified 28 sanctioned entities with paid Blue Check marks, Twitter removed the badges from some accounts and suspended others. However, within a month, several of these accounts reportedly repurchased the badges and have maintained them since.
More than 200 terrorists accounts with Blue Check marks
The report highlights the Tech Transparency Project's finding that over 200 accounts connected to terrorist groups and other sanctioned entities have acquired Blue Check marks. Katie Paul, the director of the organization, told the New York Times, "They rely on the premium services for the amplification of long propaganda posts and extended videos. They are not just subscribing for the blue check notoriety, they are subscribing for the premium services."
The report points out that Mr. Musk, currently serving as a special adviser to President Trump, recently criticized the Treasury Department for alleged deficiencies in tracking and preventing payments to terrorist groups. However, during a February appearance with President Trump, Mr. Musk stated that controls to prevent payments to such groups and fraudsters were "in place at any company."
According to The New York Times, neither Twitter nor the Treasury Department responded to requests for comment on the Tech Transparency Project's findings.
The report recalls that after Mr. Musk's acquisition of X in 2022, significant changes were implemented, including the reinstatement of numerous previously banned accounts and substantial staff reductions. The old verification system, which involved employee verification of prominent users, was also replaced with the current subscription model.
The report mentions that while Twitter's policies prohibit terrorist groups from purchasing Blue Check marks, it remains unclear how the organizations and individuals identified in the report circumvented these rules to obtain premium status. The lack of identity verification under the new system also raises the possibility that some of the flagged accounts could belong to impersonators.
How Hezbollah founder and Houthis are using Twitter to raise funds
However, the report notes that some of these accounts were labeled "ID verified," a process requiring the submission of a selfie and identification. It highlights the case of Subhi Tufayli, a founder and former secretary general of Hezbollah, who reportedly has an "ID verified" account with over 40,700 followers. Mr. Tufayli has been on the Treasury Department's sanctions list since 1995, and his account, verified in October 2023, frequently shares lengthy videos of his sermons.
The New York Times reports that an account associated with the Houthi rebel group in Yemen previously had a Blue Check mark but was removed by Twitter following the Tech Transparency Project's initial report last year.
The report details how an account under the name Hussain al-Ezzi, identified by the Tech Transparency Project as a deputy foreign minister for the Houthis, publicly requested Mr. Musk to reinstate the group's verification or at least their subscriptions. IT states that the latest Tech Transparency Project report found that at least five senior Houthi officials subsequently appeared to pay for Blue Check marks on Twitter, with their accounts collectively having over 820,000 followers.
It further said that some of the identified accounts have used Twitter to solicit funds through tipping and subscription features or by directing users to cryptocurrency wallets. Quoting Ms Paul, The New York Times said, "There is clear evidence of these groups profiting and fund-raising through X. 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."
The NYT report notes that following a previous report by the Tech Transparency Project last year, which identified 28 sanctioned entities with paid Blue Check marks, Twitter removed the badges from some accounts and suspended others. However, within a month, several of these accounts reportedly repurchased the badges and have maintained them since.
More than 200 terrorists accounts with Blue Check marks
The report highlights the Tech Transparency Project's finding that over 200 accounts connected to terrorist groups and other sanctioned entities have acquired Blue Check marks. Katie Paul, the director of the organization, told the New York Times, "They rely on the premium services for the amplification of long propaganda posts and extended videos. They are not just subscribing for the blue check notoriety, they are subscribing for the premium services."
The report points out that Mr. Musk, currently serving as a special adviser to President Trump, recently criticized the Treasury Department for alleged deficiencies in tracking and preventing payments to terrorist groups. However, during a February appearance with President Trump, Mr. Musk stated that controls to prevent payments to such groups and fraudsters were "in place at any company."
According to The New York Times, neither Twitter nor the Treasury Department responded to requests for comment on the Tech Transparency Project's findings.
The report recalls that after Mr. Musk's acquisition of X in 2022, significant changes were implemented, including the reinstatement of numerous previously banned accounts and substantial staff reductions. The old verification system, which involved employee verification of prominent users, was also replaced with the current subscription model.
The report mentions that while Twitter's policies prohibit terrorist groups from purchasing Blue Check marks, it remains unclear how the organizations and individuals identified in the report circumvented these rules to obtain premium status. The lack of identity verification under the new system also raises the possibility that some of the flagged accounts could belong to impersonators.
How Hezbollah founder and Houthis are using Twitter to raise funds
However, the report notes that some of these accounts were labeled "ID verified," a process requiring the submission of a selfie and identification. It highlights the case of Subhi Tufayli, a founder and former secretary general of Hezbollah, who reportedly has an "ID verified" account with over 40,700 followers. Mr. Tufayli has been on the Treasury Department's sanctions list since 1995, and his account, verified in October 2023, frequently shares lengthy videos of his sermons.
The New York Times reports that an account associated with the Houthi rebel group in Yemen previously had a Blue Check mark but was removed by Twitter following the Tech Transparency Project's initial report last year.
The report details how an account under the name Hussain al-Ezzi, identified by the Tech Transparency Project as a deputy foreign minister for the Houthis, publicly requested Mr. Musk to reinstate the group's verification or at least their subscriptions. IT states that the latest Tech Transparency Project report found that at least five senior Houthi officials subsequently appeared to pay for Blue Check marks on Twitter, with their accounts collectively having over 820,000 followers.
It further said that some of the identified accounts have used Twitter to solicit funds through tipping and subscription features or by directing users to cryptocurrency wallets. Quoting Ms Paul, The New York Times said, "There is clear evidence of these groups profiting and fund-raising through X. 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."
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