I know why media (say they) use "alleged" all the time, but this doesn't apply.
It's by definition a link. Whether it’s a significant link is another matter, but no court would be so ridiculous as to accept a lawsuit based on a misunderstanding of what the word "linked" means.
if they're on the list, that could be argued it's not alleged that they're tied together in some form
The list itself is a link. Whether it’s a link that means anything is yet to be revealed, but it's beyond a shadow of a doubt and in every legal sense a link.
this will keep anyone from attempted to sue them over it.
No it won't. There was already precisely zero risk of it.
The only thing they're achieving by adding "alleged" to this headline is to annoy people who know what words and concepts are and then spur a lot of people to tell those already annoyed people things the annoyed people already know and have been reminded of every time they've pointed out misuse of "alleged".
Incompetence and ignorance don't have to be deliberate to be annoying. Especially when they happen often. I happen to expect better of those who are paid to inform people of breaking news. Being annoyed ≠ thinking it's about me or otherwise deliberate.
Again, never said that. You sure sound like a very sincere person, waving around the strawman you constructed to dismiss my rational argument as paranoid ramblings.