by Jerusalem Post Staff
TTP identified 130 Yemen-based X accounts that were advertising a range of weapons, including high-powered rifles, grenade launchers, and other military-grade arms.
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A recent investigation by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has revealed that Elon Musk’s platform X and Meta-owned WhatsApp are hosting a thriving arms trade linked to Houthi terrorists in Yemen. The investigation exposes how these tech giants are failing to enforce their own policies against weapons trafficking and undermining US national security interests.
TTP identified 130 Yemen-based X accounts that were advertising a range of weapons, including high-powered rifles, grenade launchers, and other military-grade arms. A significant portion of these accounts, over half, were based in Sana'a, Yemen’s capital, which has been under the control of the Houthi movement for over a decade. Many of the accounts displayed allegiance to the Houthis, with some even prominently featuring the Houthi emblem in their posts.
US-branded weapons found for sale
Among the weapons offered by these accounts were items clearly marked as “Property of US Govt.,” raising serious concerns about the origins of the firearms. While the accounts did not specify how they came into possession of US-branded weapons, such items have been a known source of concern, particularly following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.During the chaotic exit, a large amount of US-manufactured weapons were left behind, some of which have made their way into the global black market. The arms were likely being sold to fund the activities of the Houthi terrorists, who continue to pose a threat to regional stability.
The arms trade extended beyond X. TTP found that several accounts used WhatsApp or Telegram, encrypted messaging platforms, to facilitate direct communication between buyers and sellers. WhatsApp, a business communication tool owned by Meta, was actively used for arms sales, despite the platform’s stated policy prohibiting such transactions.
Clear violation of platform policies
Both X and WhatsApp have policies that prohibit weapons sales. However, these platforms seem to have either overlooked or failed to enforce their own guidelines. The arms trade continued openly on X, with accounts explicitly offering military-grade rifles and rocket launchers for sale.In addition to the weapon listings, X also ran ads beneath some of the posts featuring firearms, raising further concerns. Ads from unrelated companies, such as the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and even Tesla, appeared in the comment sections of posts offering weapons for sale. This indicates that X might be generating revenue from these policy-violating posts, even though the company has publicly stated that it does not run ads alongside such content.
The role of X's business accounts
Many of the arms trader accounts found on X were listed as business accounts, a feature designed to allow businesses to engage with customers. These accounts, which often had professional categories such as "Gun Store" or "Shopping & Retail," were used to promote weapons and military equipment. In total, TTP identified over 50 such accounts that had been given business classifications, some of which were apparently paying for premium services on X.Several accounts were seen using the extended video features available to X Premium subscribers, with one showing an individual unboxing a “M249 SAW,” a light machine gun used by the US military. These accounts had access to enhanced features, such as longer video uploads and access to analytics dashboards, further blurring the line between legitimate business activity and illegal arms dealing.
Houthi-linked X accounts and their operations
Among the X accounts involved in this trade was @yeusaf_mm, which identified itself in Arabic as a platform for buying and selling weapons. With over 2,700 followers, the account frequently posted about various weapons, including AK-47-style rifles and a Polish-made AK-47. The account shared pro-Houthi content, including videos from Houthi media and posts celebrating the movement’s military activities.Another account, @mslslnsln1, also based in Sana'a, advertised a variety of weapons, including Soviet-made RPGs and Turkish-made M4 carbines. The profile image was a logo of a rifle, and posts frequently featured military equipment for sale, with prices and details listed. One of these posts offered AK-47s for about $1,500, indicating the type of weapons on sale and the organized nature of these illegal transactions.
The presence of US military weapons, particularly the M4 carbine, was noted by TTP. Some of the rifles were still marked with “PROPERTY OF US GOVT,” raising further questions about how these items made their way to Yemen. The M4 carbine, used by US forces, was sold alongside grenades, ballistic helmets, and night-vision goggles, with some items being offered at prices upwards of $10,000.
TTP’s findings point to a serious security risk, as these weapons could be used not only by the Houthis but also by other terrorist groups in the region, further exacerbating tensions and undermining international stability.
WhatsApp’s role in the trade
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, also played a key role in this arms trade. More than half of the Yemen-based X accounts investigated by TTP had links to WhatsApp business accounts. These WhatsApp business profiles were used to facilitate the sale of weapons, with several accounts listing their wares in product catalogs. One such account, linked to the X account @AlqhylyM, offered a range of military equipment, including rifles and accessories, and clearly indicated its location in Sana'a.WhatsApp’s business accounts are intended to facilitate customer service and promote products, yet in this case, they were used to market weapons. Despite WhatsApp’s policy against the sale of firearms, these business accounts were able to advertise and transact openly without apparent intervention from Meta’s monitoring systems.
Meta’s failure to enforce its own policies
While Meta claims it cannot monitor the encrypted content of WhatsApp messages, the company does review business account profiles and images posted to catalogs. However, TTP found that several of the business accounts violated both WhatsApp’s and Meta’s broader policies on firearms sales. The failure to detect and remove these profiles and catalogs raises serious concerns about Meta’s commitment to enforcing its own rules and preventing the misuse of its platforms.The investigation also uncovered that many of the arms traders linked their WhatsApp business accounts to Instagram or Facebook profiles, which further violated Meta’s commerce policies. Despite the platform’s prohibitions on firearm sales, these accounts were able to operate openly for months, if not longer.
X's ongoing responsibility
The investigation into X’s role in facilitating the sale of weapons linked to the Houthis is a reminder of the challenges faced by tech companies in regulating content on their platforms. Despite having clear policies against weapons trafficking, X appears to have failed in both enforcement and detection of policy violations.TTP’s report calls for increased accountability from social media giants like X and WhatsApp. These platforms must do more to prevent their services from being exploited by terrorist organizations and arms traffickers.
Jerusalem Post Staff
Source: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-861535
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