Elon Musk threatens to boot Twitter account impersonators
Boston (AP): Elon Musk tweeted Sunday that Twitter will permanently suspend any account on the social media platform that impersonates another.
The platform's new owner issued the warning after some celebrities 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 all comers 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.
In fact, any name change at all would compel the temporary loss of a verified checkmark, the world's richest man said.
Comedian Kathy Griffin had her account suspended Sunday for switching her screen name to Musk.
Actress Valerie Bertinelli had done the same 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, 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 democratizing 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 U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. However, it was not available Sunday and there was no indication when it would roll go live. A Twitter employ, Esther Crawford, told The Associated Press it is coming soon but it hasn't launched yet.
Twitter did not respond on Sunday to an email seeking comment.
If the company were to strip current verified users of blue checks something that hasn't happened that could exacerbate disinformation on the platform during Tuesday's midterm elections.
Some Twitter users have already begun migrating from the platform to alternatives such as Mastodon and Counter Social 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 a disinformation free-for-all on what has been the internet's main conduit for reliable communications from public agencies and other institutions.
Many companies have paused advertising on the platform out of concern it could become more unruly under Musk.
Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of safety and integrity, sought to assuage such concerns in a tweet Friday. He said the company's front-line content moderation staff was the group least affected by the job cuts.
Musk tweeted late Friday that there was no choice but to cut jobs when the company is losing over 4M/day. He did not provide details on the daily losses at Twitter and said employees who lost their jobs were offered three months' pay as severance.
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CPI(M) alleges EC's inaction against BJP leaders’ anti-Muslim speeches despite complaints
New Delhi: Sitaram Yechury, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), has accused the Election Commission (EC) of failing to address the BJP's alleged anti-Muslim speeches during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Yechury's accusations come despite multiple complaints lodged by his party.
Yechury claims that the BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have been inciting hatred against Muslims with their speeches, yet the EC has not taken any action despite receiving several complaints. He highlighted instances where BJP leaders violated the Model Code of Conduct.
One such instance cited by Yechury is Modi's speech in Rajasthan on April 21, where he allegedly made divisive remarks implying that the Congress planned to favor Muslims over other citizens. Yechury asserts that the EC's notice to BJP President JP Nadda regarding Modi's speech had little impact, as subsequent speeches continued to violate the poll code.
Yechury also pointed out recent speeches by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, alleging similar attempts to stoke communal tensions.
In his letter to the EC, Yechury urged decisive action against Modi, Adityanath, and Sarma, emphasizing that the impartiality and credibility of the EC could be compromised if it fails to address such violations, especially when they involve high-ranking officials.
The CPI(M) had previously lodged complaints with the EC regarding Modi's references to the Ram temple in Ayodhya and his labeling of the opposition as opponents of the temple.
Yechury's allegations underscore growing concerns over the influence of divisive rhetoric in Indian electoral politics and the role of the EC in ensuring fair and unbiased elections.
