X is blocking access to Signal links.
User identifiers can still be published as an alternative solution.
The platform X has currently restricted the ability for users to share links to Signal.me, which are used for sending direct messages quickly and securely to Signal users. When attempting to share these links, various error notifications are being reported, warning about the presence of spam, harmful content, or malicious activity. A colleague experienced an error message that said, "something went wrong, but don’t worry, let’s try again."
This issue was initially pointed out by Matt Binder, who noted that only links to Signal.me seem to be affected, while links to Signal.org and other platforms like Telegram do not face restrictions. Signal is a tool particularly valued by journalists, as it allows confidential communication with sources thanks to its end-to-end encryption and storage on the user's device. This service has recently gained special relevance as a means for federal whistleblowers to inform the media about activities related to DOGE.
In addition to the inability to share Signal.me links in public posts and direct messages, users are discouraged from clicking on previously published links and are prevented from adding these links to their profile bio. When attempting to update their bio with a Signal.me link, an error message appears indicating that the update failed because it is considered "malware."
This is not the first time X has taken action to limit the promotion of third-party services on its platform. In 2022, links to Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, and other competing social networks were temporarily blocked following Elon Musk's attempts to curb what he considered "relentless advertising from competitors at no cost." In 2023, Substack links were also restricted after it launched its own Twitter-like feature called "Notes."
However, these situations are different, as Signal does not directly compete with X. So far, X has not confirmed whether the restriction on Signal links is intentional, and a response regarding this is awaited. For now, Signal user handles can still be shared on X, allowing users to copy and paste them into the Signal app as a workaround.
