X has started blocking links to “Signal.me”, a URL used by the Signal encrypted messaging app to share account info with others, citing spam and malware risks. The platform’s error message reads that the request might be automated, and users can try again later.
However, BleepingComputer’s tests and other users’ reports show that only messages containing the exact “signal.me” URL are being blocked. Other Signal links, like Signal.org, signal.link, and signal.group, appear to be unaffected by the block.
Reasons for this action remain unclear, but researcher Tommy Mysk suggests it might resemble the platform’s previous behavior of blocking competing platforms’ links. Signal.me links make it easy for users to share their contact info without manually exchanging phone numbers, making them a private and safe way to initiate discussions.
Some speculate that these blocks are politically driven, given Elon Musk’s recent criticism over how his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has accessed US government agencies. The blocks follow X’s previous actions in 2023, when it blocked links to competing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Mastodon after user protests.
X has not made any statements about the blocks or responded to requests for comment.
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/x-now-blocks-signal-contact-links-flags-them-as-malicious