Checkmarks Sold to US Sanctioned Groups by X, Report Reveals

The recent findings from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) reveal alarming information regarding X, which has once again been accepting payments from individuals affiliated with terrorist groups and other entities that are subject to US sanctions. The report indicates that X has not only allowed these payments for its premium service but has, in some instances, issued an “ID verified” badge to these accounts, raising serious concerns about the platform’s compliance with legal regulations.

These findings bring to light the ongoing debate about whether X is adhering to US sanctions designed to curb business interactions with individuals and organizations identified as security threats. Last year, TTP published a report revealing over two dozen verified accounts linked to sanctioned groups, including prominent figures from Hezbollah and accounts associated with Houthis in Yemen. Many of these verification badges were later revoked, alongside promises from X to ensure a “safe, secure, and compliant platform” for its users.

However, the TTP report indicates that some of these accounts merely “resubscribed” to the premium service or created entirely new accounts to bypass restrictions, casting doubt on the effectiveness of X‘s compliance measures. The investigation, which spans from November 2024 to April 2025, uncovered a range of accounts with blue checkmarks for individuals and organizations under US sanctions, including those who simply returned to the platform after their previous accounts were banned or limited by X. Notably, some of these accounts received the ‘ID verified’ status, suggesting that X conducted additional identity checks.

The report underscores the presence of verified accounts linked to Hezbollah members, including a founder of the organization, as well as officials from the Houthi movement, who are utilizing X extensively for messaging and propaganda. Additionally, figures such as the son of Muammar Gadhafi, who previously had his account suspended, and Raghad Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti, one of Saddam Hussein‘s daughters, are currently active on the platform. Both individuals have been under sanctions for over a decade.

X has not provided any comments regarding the report. In response to similar findings last year, the company stated it would “take action if necessary.” However, it remains unclear whether any changes have been implemented regarding the policies governing who is eligible for premium subscriptions.

Michelle Kuppersmith, the executive director of the Campaign for Accountability, which oversees TTP, expressed her concerns, stating, “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. 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.”