A new report by Tech Transparency Project revealed that arms dealers tied to Yemen’s Houthis are openly trading weapons, including U.S.-marked military equipment, on WhatsApp and X, defying the platforms’ policies against such activities.
Tech Transparency Project, a Washington-based organization monitoring tech giants, documented consistent activity by Houthi-affiliated dealers operating publicly for months or even years through private and business accounts, leveraging paid commercial tools offered by Meta and X.
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Amreican weapons up for sale on X offered by Houthis
(Photo: Tech Transparency Project)
The report identified 130 X accounts and 67 WhatsApp business accounts operating from Yemen, many from the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. These accounts offer rifles, machine guns, grenades and rocket launchers, some bearing U.S. military and NATO markings, labeled as “Property of U.S. Government.”
Prices often reach tens of thousands of dollars per item, suggesting the target market is armed militias rather than civilians. While the report doesn’t specify buyers, the scale, advanced technology and high costs indicate a sophisticated, well-funded market.
Despite the Houthis’ designation as a terrorist organization by the U.S., Canada and other powers, tech platforms struggle to curb their use for propaganda and arms trafficking. Some dealers subscribe to X’s premium services and WhatsApp’s business accounts, gaining wider exposure, full-length video posting and direct payment options.
6 View gallery
Amreican weapons up for sale on X offered by Houthis
(Photo: Tech Transparency Project)
One example featured an “unboxing” video of a U.S. M249 machine gun, while others displayed Houthi symbols and the group’s slogan: “Death to America, Death to Israel, A curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam.”
In September 2023, three dealers responded directly to X CEO Elon Musk’s post about firing a Barrett rifle, offering AR-15 rifles for sale. Ads for weapons even appeared within posts, including a Tesla ad alongside a Glock pistol listing, raising questions about whether X profits from this trade.
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Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, claims it manually reviews product images and descriptions before posting, but failed to block these accounts, some openly identifying as arms dealers with links to physical stores in Yemen.
One Glock pistol was marketed wrapped in leather featuring the White House, Lincoln Memorial and a Revolutionary War soldier. Following inquiries from The Guardian, WhatsApp banned only two accounts, saying it acts against terrorist-linked entities when identified, but offered no explanation for how numerous accounts evaded detection.
Since Elon Musk acquired X in 2022, about 80% of its trust and safety staff, responsible for monitoring problematic content, were laid off. Meta also cut thousands of safety and enforcement employees in recent years, announcing in January plans to further reduce content moderation, citing claims of censoring right-leaning users.
The report noted most examined accounts were created after these layoffs, suggesting a direct link between reduced staffing and the rise in illegal activities on these platforms.