Introduction to the Issue
Back in February, Elon Musk criticized the Treasury Department for lacking "basic controls" to stop payments to terrorist organizations, boasting at the Oval Office that "any company" has those controls. Fast-forward three months, and now Musk’s social media platform X is suspected of taking payments from sanctioned terrorists and providing premium features that make it easier to raise funds and spread propaganda—including through X’s chatbot, Grok.
Suspected Terrorist Groups on X
Groups seemingly benefiting from X include Houthi rebels, Hezbollah, and Hamas, as well as groups from Syria, Kuwait, and Iran. Some accounts have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, paying to boost their reach while X apparently looks the other way. In a report released Thursday, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) flagged popular accounts likely linked to US-sanctioned terrorists.
X’s Premium Features for Terrorists
Some of the accounts bear "ID verified" badges, suggesting that X may be going against its own policies that ban sanctioned terrorists from benefiting from its platform. Even more troubling, "several made use of revenue-generating features offered by X, including a button for tips," the TTP reported. On X, Premium subscribers pay $8 monthly or $84 annually, and Premium+ subscribers pay $40 monthly or $395 annually. Verified organizations pay X between $200 and $1,000 monthly, or up to $10,000 annually for access to Premium+. These subscriptions come with perks, allowing suspected terrorist accounts to share longer text and video posts, offer subscribers paid content, create communities, accept gifts, and amplify their propaganda.
X’s Chatbot Grok
Disturbingly, the TTP found that X’s chatbot, Grok, also appears to be helping to whitewash accounts linked to sanctioned terrorists. In its report, the TTP noted that an account with the handle "hasmokaled"—which apparently belongs to "a key Hezbollah money exchanger," Hassan Moukalled—at one point had a blue checkmark with 60,000 followers. While the Treasury Department has sanctioned Moukalled for propping up efforts "to continue to exploit and exacerbate Lebanon’s economic crisis," clicking the Grok AI profile summary button seems to rely on Moukalled’s own posts and his followers’ impressions of his posts and therefore generated praise.
Conclusion
The fact that X is allowing suspected terrorist groups to use its platform and premium features is alarming. It raises questions about the effectiveness of the platform’s content moderation policies and its commitment to preventing the spread of terrorist propaganda. The issue highlights the need for social media companies to prioritize the safety and security of their users and to take proactive steps to prevent the misuse of their platforms.
FAQs
- What is the issue with X’s platform? X is suspected of taking payments from sanctioned terrorists and providing premium features that make it easier to raise funds and spread propaganda.
- Which groups are benefiting from X? Groups seemingly benefiting from X include Houthi rebels, Hezbollah, and Hamas, as well as groups from Syria, Kuwait, and Iran.
- What is Grok and how is it involved? Grok is X’s chatbot, which appears to be helping to whitewash accounts linked to sanctioned terrorists by generating praise for their posts.
- What can be done to prevent this issue? Social media companies need to prioritize the safety and security of their users and take proactive steps to prevent the misuse of their platforms, including implementing effective content moderation policies and monitoring suspicious activity.
