TIPPING POINT
THE continued degradation of X/Twitter under Elon Musk has seen millions of European users leave the platform and the exit of brands and big-name celebrities – but the platform is making back a few quid by selling “verification” to “dubious” characters.
More than 200 accounts linked to, er, terrorist and other sanctioned groups have bought blue check marks, according to the Tech Transparency Project, including senior Hezbollah and Houthi officials. Many of the accounts use the platform as a direct fundraising tool, either via X’s own “tips” functionality or by inviting users to deposit funds in cryptocurrency wallets, neatly enabling both propagandising and panhandling for terrorists.