15.07.2025
2 min
513
Over a hundred accounts linked to the Houthi group openly sell weapons — including U.S.-made arms — on X (Twitter) and WhatsApp. Many items still carry the “Property of US Govt” markings, while the platforms either fail to detect violations or simply don’t act.
A Tech Transparency Project investigation revealed that Houthi-affiliated militants, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., have been openly trading arms online for years. Key findings include:
- 130 X accounts and 67 WhatsApp Business accounts posting images of assault rifles, RPGs, machine guns, and pistols.
- Some of these accounts were subscribed to X Premium, allowing them to upload videos — including “unboxing” clips of U.S.-made M249 SAW machine guns.
- Weapons offered included gold-plated Glocks with patriotic themes, rifles bearing Houthi logos, and sellers even accepted “tips” via X.
- Tesla-related ads were sometimes shown next to weapon listings on X, making the issue even more jarring.
Despite official bans on weapon sales by Meta and X, content moderation has drastically declined following mass layoffs at both companies. Many accounts remain active even when they clearly identify with armed groups.
The Houthis have controlled parts of Yemen since 2014, with most of the identified accounts located in the capital, Sana’a. Some of the weapons — according to analysts — are remnants of U.S. aid to Yemeni forces before the Houthis seized territory, while others, including civilian versions of American rifles, enter via the Persian Gulf or Iran.
U.S. sanctions on the Houthi network, imposed in early 2025, targeted Russian arms shipments through Iran. However, online arms trafficking remains fully operational.
Companies behind X and WhatsApp claim to fight terrorism, but in reality, they allow armed sales to flourish on their platforms. At best, they lack the will or capacity to enforce moderation, creating a clear threat to U.S. national security.
