The warning is pertinent: “Get your affairs in order. Or Congress will,” the influential US Senator Ed Markey (76), a member of the Democratic Party, wrote to new Twitter owner Elon Musk (51) on Sunday.
Blue verification mark on Twitter: The “Washington Post” had created a fake account as an experiment. The account made users believe the account belonged to politician Ed Markey, and Twitter immediately gave a blue checkmark that was supposed to confirm the authenticity of the accounts.
This has been made possible by the new procedure where verification marks, previously given to celebrities, politicians and companies after a quiz, will be given to all users who pay a subscription fee of eight dollars a month. No identity check. The confirmation symbol looks the same in both cases. It is a descriptive text that is only displayed when you click on it, regardless of whether the account is due to the importance of the checkmark or due to the user’s payment.
Fake Chiquita too
Musk said that, from his perspective, authentication through payment services and app platforms should protect against abuse of the new system. However, that hasn’t stopped many users from spending $8 to create fake celebrity and corporate accounts with verification marks.
It hit sports stars, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and fruit specialist Chiquita, among others. Twitter suspended its subscription function for the weekend. Musk wrote on Twitter that he is not expected to be active again until the end of the week. However, the checkmarks previously assigned in this way will still be displayed.
In the example of US politician Ed Markey, all security measures clearly failed: The fake account created by the Washington Post stated that it was verified because of its importance, not for payment. Also, the Democratic senator has official profiles with the long-serving service.
Markey later accused Musk of making Twitter the “wild west of social media” by making “quick and indiscriminate” changes to the platform. “This is unacceptable,” Markey wrote, requesting clarifications from Musk about the verification system.
Musk is against criticism
Musk defiantly responded on Twitter: “Maybe it’s because his real account comes across as a parody?” Markey later reminded him that Twitter must commit to the powerful consumer protection agency FTC, and that Tesla, the electric car maker led by Musk, is being investigated by the NHTSA for the deaths.
The Senate can summon corporate bosses to hearings. After the last parliamentary elections, it can already be predicted that the Democrats will retain control of the Congress Chamber. (SDA/sfa)