Turbulent Past of X: A Deep Dive Into The Platform's History Of Attacks And Controversies

Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has been a hub for real-time information and discussions since its inception in 2006. However, the platform has also faced numerous challenges, including cyberattacks, controversies, and outages. On Monday, the social media platform suffered multiple outages, leaving the users frustrated. After the one after the other outages in a single day, Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that X was hit by a “massive cyberattack”, leading the social media platform's downtime repeatedly. Millions of users worldwide reported log-in issues, failed page loads, and error messages, with many unable to access posts or refresh their feeds. 

As X users across the world kept grappling with the issue, we will delve into the previous attacks on X and examine the platform's history of controversies.

Dealing With Spam And Phishing Attacks

In its early days, X struggled with spam and phishing attacks. In 2007, the platform faced a massive phishing attack, where hackers sent out fake tweets to trick users into revealing their login credentials. X responded quickly, implementing additional security measures, such as CAPTCHAs, to prevent similar attacks in the future.

Rise Of Cyberattacks

As X grew in popularity, it became a prime target for cyberattacks. In 2010, the platform suffered a massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, which left the site inaccessible for several hours. The attack was attributed to a group of hackers who were protesting the platform's suspension of accounts associated with the Iranian government. In 2013, X suffered a password breach, where hackers gained access to over 250,000 user accounts. The platform responded by resetting passwords and implementing additional security measures.

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Here are some notable incidents:

• Account Takeovers: In January 2024, several high-profile accounts, including those of Mandiant and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, were hijacked and used to push cryptocurrency scams.
• Phishing Attacks: In 2020, X faced a high-profile phishing attack that compromised the accounts of several prominent users, including politicians, celebrities, and business leaders.
• DDoS and Password Breaches: In 2010, X suffered a massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, and in 2013, the platform experienced a password breach that affected over 250,000 user accounts.
• Zero-Day Attack: In January 2024, a zero-day attack exposed 5.4 million Twitter accounts, highlighting concerns about industrial espionage and client confidentiality.
• Suspected Hacker Attack: In March 2025, X experienced a widespread cyberattack, causing disruptions, slow loading times, and suspected data breaches.
• Cyberattacks on Third-Party Apps: Some third-party apps connected to X have also been targeted by cyberattacks, resulting in data breaches and other security incidents.

Outages, Algorithm Changes, and Free Speech Debates

In recent years, X has faced numerous controversies, including outages, algorithm changes, and debates over free speech. In 2020, the platform suffered a series of outages, which left users unable to access the site. The outages were attributed to technical issues, but they sparked widespread criticism and frustration among users. X has also faced criticism over its algorithm changes, which some users argue prioritise content from popular accounts over smaller ones. The platform has also been at the center of debates over free speech, with some users arguing that X's moderation policies are too restrictive.

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Controversies And Incidents

Over the years, X has been at the centre of numerous controversies and incidents. Here are 10 particular mentions:

• #GamerGate Controversy (2014): X was criticised for its handling of the #GamerGate controversy, which involved a debate over sexism and misogyny in the gaming industry.
• Charlie Hebdo Attack (2015): X faced criticism for its response to the Charlie Hebdo attack, with some users accusing the platform of censoring tweets related to the incident.
• Donald Trump 's Twitter Account (2016): X faced criticism for its handling of Donald Trump's Twitter account, with some users accusing the platform of allowing Trump to spread misinformation and hate speech.
• Russian Interference in the US Election (2016): X faced criticism for its role in allowing Russian interference in the US election, with some users accusing the platform of failing to prevent the spread of misinformation.
• Alt-Right and White Nationalist Accounts (2017): X faced criticism for its handling of alt-right and white nationalist accounts, with some users accusing the platform of allowing hate speech and harassment.
• Twitter Ads and Russian Interference (2017): X faced criticism for its handling of Twitter ads, with some users accusing the platform of allowing Russian interference in the US election through targeted ads.
• Alex Jones and InfoWars (2018): X faced criticism for its handling of Alex Jones and InfoWars, with some users accusing the platform of allowing hate speech and harassment.
• Vijaya Gadde and Censorship (2018): X faced criticism for its handling of censorship, with some users accusing the platform of censoring conservative voices.
• Twitter Outages (2020): X faced criticism for its handling of outages, with some users accusing the platform of failing to prevent technical issues.
• Elon Musk's Acquisition and Content Moderation (2022): X faced criticism for its handling of content moderation, with some users accusing the platform of allowing hate speech and harassment under Elon Musk's ownership.