X accounts being sold on Saudi marketing platform despite bans

Advertisements for the sale of X (formerly Twitter) accounts have been identified on a Saudi marketing platform, despite strict policies prohibiting such transactions. Both the marketing platform and X have explicit rules against the sale or transfer of account access, with the marketing platform stating that such violations can lead to temporary or permanent membership bans.

Some advertisements claim the accounts are of Saudi origin, but experts warn this is not a guarantee of authenticity or location. Digital security specialist Nidal Al-Massiri noted that an account linked to a Saudi number or created in the Kingdom does not prove the identity or nationality of the person managing it, as access can be granted to individuals outside the country.

According to X’s help center, the location displayed in the “About this account” section is inferred from aggregated IP addresses. This means that even if an account was created in Saudi Arabia, the location may change once management shifts elsewhere. Listed prices for these accounts ranged from 15 to 70 Saudi riyals, depending on the year the account was established.