Musk has threatened to deactivate Twitter account impersonators

Elon Musk announced on Sunday that any Twitter account that impersonates another will be permanently suspended.

The platform’s new owner issued the warning after some celebrities changed their Twitter display names — not account names — and tweeted as ‘Elon Musk’ in response to the billionaire’s decision to offer verified accounts to all comers for $8 per month while also laying off a large portion of the workforce.

“Any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly mentioning “parody” will be permanently suspended going forward,” Musk tweeted. While Twitter previously offered warnings before to suspensions, now that “widespread verification” is being implemented, “there will be no warning.”

In fact, “any name change at all” would necessitate the temporary loss of a confirmed checkmark, according to the world’s richest man.

Kathy Griffin’s account was terminated on Sunday after she changed her screen name to Musk. She admitted to a Bloomberg reporter that she had used his profile photo as well.

Bertinelli noted the original purpose of the blue verification tick prior to the prank. It was given away for free to those whose identities Twitter workers confirmed, with journalists making up a large share of the receivers. “It just meant that your identification has been validated.” Scammers would have a more difficult time imitating you,” Bertinelli observed.

“That is no longer true. “Best of luck out there!” She continued.

Musk believes that the $8 verified accounts are his approach of democratising the service. Users who “sign up now” for the new “Twitter Blue with verification” can obtain the blue check next to their names “exactly like the celebrities, companies, and politicians you currently follow,” according to a Twitter update for iOS devices featured on Apple’s app store on Saturday.

It stated that the service would first be available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. However, it was not available on Sunday, and no timetable was provided. Esther Crawford, a Twitter employee, told The Associated Press that it will be available “soon but not yet.”

On Sunday, Twitter did not respond to an email requesting comment on the verified accounts issue and Griffin’s suspension.

Musk later tweeted, “Twitter must become by far the most accurate source of global information.” That is our goal.”

If the firm removes blue checks from current verified users — which has not happened — this might encourage disinformation on the platform during Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Following layoffs that occurred on Friday that apparently affected roughly half of Twitter’s 7,500-employee workforce, some Twitter users, like Griffin, have already begun migrating away from the platform — Counter Social is another popular option. They are concerned that a breakdown in moderation and verification will result in a free-for-all of disinformation on what has been the internet’s primary channel for accurate communications from government agencies and other institutions.

Many businesses have delayed advertising on the platform for fear of it becoming more unruly under Musk.

In a Friday message, Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of safety and integrity, attempted to allay such fears. He claimed that the employment reduction had the least impact on the company’s front-line content moderation team.

Musk tweeted late Friday that there had no alternative but to terminate workers “when the firm is losing over $4M/day.” He did not disclose specifics on the daily losses at Twitter, but said staff who were let go were given three months’ pay as severance.

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