Following Musk's $44 billion acquisition, parody accounts could receive a "permanent suspension" with "no warning", which several users told Insider has happened to their accounts.
The day after he bought the site, Musk posted a message saying "comedy is now legal" on the platform, but in the days that followed, parody accounts pretending to be Musk have been banned from the site.
"There is nothing better than waking up and enjoying a fresh, steaming cup of my own urine," Kluwe wrote from his verified account after changing his details to match Musk's. It's scientifically proven that it helps brain cells grow. Drink your pee if you want to be like me.
—Kate Aurthur (@KateAurthur) November 4, 2022
"Okay, time to employ plan b since they're trying to make me keep my account," read one of the spoofs by Rich Sommer of "Mad Men" fame, parodying Musk.
"Jed from accounting called me 'little baby bitchboy' to my face," Jeph Jacques wrote from his verified account. I'm having my goons break his wife's legs even though I fired him.
The verified accounts, as well as others, have been restricted or removed entirely because of the joke posted on the social networking site.
—Jesse Hawken (@jessehawken) November 4, 2022
Sommer told Insider that he didn't want anyone to think he was Musk. I would have liked to go down in flames. I knew I was about to leave. I wanted to show that anyone could say they were anyone.
Musk, who has described himself as a " free speech absolutist" with intentions to make a digital town square that allows all constitutionally protected speech, on Sunday changed his previous comments to include only posts clearly designated as parody.
Any account that impersonates without specifying "parody" will be permanently suspended. There was a warning before the suspension but now there is no warning. This will be a condition for signing up to the social networking site.
Musk said that any change in name from a verified account would cause a temporary loss of checkmark. After accounts like Kluwe's, Sommer's, and Jacques' were suspended without warning, he replied to his followers.
—Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022
Kluwe said the plan to prevent abuse of the verification system was akin to putting a band-aid on a forest fire. Kluwe wanted to draw attention to how easy it is to impersonate Musk and encouraged other verified users to do the same.
Kluwe said that he is the "champion of free speech". If they were cracking down on parody then that would be a violation of free speech.
The existing policy on parody, commentary, and fan accounts specifically prohibits users from using language like "real" or "official" on accounts not associated with the person or organization they are parodying.
The parody account policy states that you can't impersonate individuals, groups, or organizations, or use a fake identity in a way that confuses others.
In discussions with Insider, Kluwe, Sommer, and Jacques each clearly indicated they knew their posts were in violation of the terms of service and each anticipated a warning or suspension of some kind.
If they're perfectly within their rights to kick me off, it's bad for disinformation, but under this new plan of trying to monetize the verified status, I knew I was breaking the terms of service.
Kluwe said that it takes one person to click on the link and fall for it. It is a huge return on investment for the scam artist.
Musk last week announced changes to the verification system, including an $8 monthly subscription to Twitter Blue, which critics, including Kluwe, Sommer, and Jacques, worry will lead to scam artists posing as more credible people to take advantage of others.
Jacques told Insider that he believes Musk is a "chronic bullshit artist." Jacques told Insider that he believes Musk is a "chronic bullshit artist."
I'm reading the email and thinking "Yes, the badge that you're going to be selling for $8 to anyone" It has a lot of meaning. It has been quite amusing. I would have expected him to react the same way. Jacques said that he was proud of everyone who participated in the sequence of events.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
