Elon Musk announces ban on Twitter accounts that impersonate others

Elon Musk has announced that Twitter will ban any account on the social media platform that impersonates another user after he was targeted by celebrities.

Shortly after tweeting the new rule on Sunday, the account of US comedian Kathy Griffin was suspended because she had switched her screen name to Musk.

She was among celebrities that had changed their Twitter display names - not their account names - and tweeted as Elon Musk in reaction to the billionaire’s decision to offer verified accounts to anyone for $8 month.“

“Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended,” Musk wrote. While Twitter previously issued warnings before suspensions, now that it is rolling out “widespread verification, there will be no warning”, he said.

Any name change at all would lead to a temporary loss of a verified checkmark, Musk said.

Musk later wrote: “Twitter needs to become by far the most accurate source of information about the world. That’s our mission.”

Ms Griffin joked afterward, on Mastodon, an alternative social media platform: “I guess not ALL the content moderators were let go? Lol.”

Actor Valerie Bertinelli had similarly appropriated Musk’s screen name — posting a series of tweets in support of Democratic candidates on Saturday before switching back to her true name.

“Okey-dokey. I’ve had fun and I think I made my point,” she tweeted afterwards.

Before the stunt, Ms Bertinelli noted the original purpose of the blue verification checkmark. It was granted free of charge to people whose identity Twitter employees had confirmed; with journalists accounting for a big portion of recipients.

“It simply meant your identity was verified. Scammers would have a harder time impersonating you,” Bertinelli noted. “That no longer applies. Good luck out there!” she added.

The $8 verified accounts are Musk’s way of democratising the service, he claims.

On Saturday, a Twitter update for iOS devices listed on Apple’s app store said users who “sign up now” for the new “Twitter Blue with verification” can get the blue check next to their names “just like the celebrities, companies and politicians you already follow.”

It said the service would first be available in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

It was not available on Sunday and a Twitter employ, Esther Crawford, told The Associated Press it is coming “soon but it hasn’t launched yet.”

Some Twitter users have already begun migrating from the platform — Counter Social is another popular alternative — following layoffs that began Friday that reportedly affected about half of Twitter’s 7,500-employee workforce.

They fear a breakdown of moderation and verification could create disinformation on what has been a main source for reliable communications from public agencies.

Many companies have paused advertising on the platform out of concern it could become more unruly under Musk.