On Monday (November 7), ‘Chief Twit’ Elon Musk announced that accounts using ‘malicious impersonation’ would be permanently suspended if they failed to highlight their parodic nature.
In a tweet, he informed: “Going forward, any Twitter handle engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended.”
Going forward, any Twitter that addresses engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
Elon Musk added that while such Twitter accounts received warnings earlier, before the suspension, the rule would change going forward, especially if they already have a blue tick.
“Earlier, we issued a warning before the suspension, but now that we are doing extensive verification, there will be no warning. This will be clearly identified as a condition of signing up for Twitter Blue,” he stressed.
Twitter’s new owner also pointed out that any changes to verified handle names will also lead to the temporary loss of the blue badge.
Any name change at all will cause a temporary loss of the verified token
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
Asked if nicknames will be allowed on Twitter in the future, Elon Musk replied: “It’s okay to use a nickname. The high-level principle is that verified users cannot engage in malicious fraud.”
It’s okay to use a nickname. The high-level principle is that verified users cannot engage in malicious fraud.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022
The development comes days after several verified Twitter accounts impersonated Elon Musk and tried to call him the ‘real’ owner of the platform.
Elon Musk gives a reality check to journalists
The ‘Twit Chief’ also informed that his mission is to turn the microblogging platform into an ‘accurate source of information’.
Photographer Kyle Grantham accused Musk of giving blue badges to all Twitter users who are willing to raise money, thereby exacerbating the issue of ‘misinformation’ on Twitter.
“And to do that, I’m going to allow anyone who gives me money to look like a legitimate news source, instead of making sure that all legitimate news sources are confirmed to be who they say they are,” he said.
You represent the problem: journalists who think they are the only source of legitimate information. This is the big lie.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022
Elon Musk responded by pointing out that journalists are not the only source of legitimate information. “You represent the problem. Journalists who think they are the only source of legitimate information. This is the big lie”, he added.
When Twitter founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey asked who would determine the accuracy of information shared on the social media platform, Musk said, “As judged by the people of Twitter through Community Notes (formerly Birdwatch).
As judged by the people of Twitter via Community Notes (formerly Birdwatch)
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 7, 2022
He also revealed his plan to democratize journalism and empower people through widespread verification, which can be obtained by paying $8 in the near future.
“Broad verification will democratize journalism and empower the voice of the people,” Elon Musk announced on Monday (November 7th).
Widespread verification will democratize journalism and empower the voice of the people
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
On October 27, Elon Musk visited Twitter’s headquarters, holding a ceramic sink to “let it sink in” as he was now Twitter’s new boss. The next day, he took over ownership of the micro-blogging platform and fired key executives, including CEO Parag Agrawal and Chief Legal Officer Vijaya Gadde.
