X is allowing terrorist groups to pay for blue ticks, says report

According to an investigation conducted by The Tech Transparency Project (TTP), social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is letting known terrorist groups pay for subscriptions and verifications.

The report says that the platform has taken payments from accounts that belong to Hezobollah leaders, state-run media from Iran and Russia, and Houthi groups. The premium and premium+ subscriptions on X give users the much coveted blue checkmark, along with other features such as reduced ads, longer posts and much more.

Also read | X alternative Bluesky is no longer invite-only, is now open to all

"TTP’s investigation also found that some checkmark accounts associated with U.S.-sanctioned entities had ads running in the replies to their posts, raising the possibility that they could get a cut of that ad revenue," the report said.