Social media platform X has started blocking links to Signal.me, a domain used by the encrypted messaging app Signal to facilitate direct communication between users. The ban extends across the platform, preventing users from sharing Signal.me links in public posts, direct messages, or even profile bios.
Users attempting to share a Signal.me link encounter various error messages depending on the platform version they are using, notes Disruptionist. One some versions, a prompt states, “We can’t complete this request because this link has been identified by x or our partners as being potentially harmful.”
Others receive an error suggesting that the request appears “automated” and is blocked to protect against spam or malicious activity. When attempting to add a Signal.me link to their profile bio, users are met with a message stating, “Account update failed. Description is considered malware.”
Even previously posted Signal.me links are now blocked. Clicking on such links triggers a warning page from X, which cautions users that the link “may be unsafe” and has been flagged in accordance with the platform’s URL policy. However, uses can still bypass the warning and proceed to the original URL.
The exact timing of the ban remains unclear, but it appears to be a recent development. Notably, the ban does not extend to other Signal domains, such as Signal.org, suggesting that only the contact-specific Signal.me URLs are affected.
Additionally, competing services such as Telegram remain unaffected, with Telegram contact links still permitted on the platform.
Signal has long been a preferred communication tool for journalists due to its strong end-to-end encryption and privacy protections. Unlike other messaging platforms, Signal does not store user data on cloud servers, making it an essential tool for confidential conversations.
Its interesting that X decides to block Signal links at a time when Elon Musk is leading an important position in the Trump administration. Signal has been recently used by whistleblowers to target companies and government.
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