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Elon Musk Will Permanently Ban Verified Twitter Impersonation Accounts

November 07, 2022

The Twitter saga seems to keep evolving after new CEO and tech entrepreneur, Elon Musk implemented paid verification. Many opposed the $8 dollar monthly charge for the blue check mark, citing how dangerous paying for identity verification on the platform will be. Well, comedians like Kathy Griffin and Sarah Silverman took it upon themselves to show Musk how easy (and funny) it is to impersonate big accounts. Griffin and Silverman both got their accounts suspended. Musk announced to Twitter how he will approach impersonation accounts in the future.

Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning.

This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022

Any name change at all will cause temporary loss of verified checkmark

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2022

“Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended,” Musk states in his Twitter thread on Sunday night, “Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning. This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue”.

Musk, who touted that his takeover of Twitter would be a win for “free speech”, is met with strong criticisms.

Ethan Klein of H3H3 Productions challenged this ban by changing his display name and photo to Musk’s but having his profile header photo and description state “parody account”. Kelin then proceeded to fire off many joke tweets at Musk’s expense.

Don't worry, he went down with more bangers than that pic.twitter.com/N0tcjxNONz

— YaGirlZero (@YaGirlZer0) November 7, 2022

Klein’s account was subsequently suspended. Klein posted a video on his TikTok commenting about the suspension.

“Comedy is dead and Elon Musk dug the grave…,” Klein says with sad violin music playing in the background of his TikTok.

Comedians using their verified checkmarks for jokes is not new on Twitter but the platform’s policy always issued first a warning. Musk’s proposed update will allow no room for verified users to save their accounts if they are deemed to be impersonating another account.

Twitter users have not agreed with Musk’s reaction to being impersonated and his proposed update.

Elon Musk after he banned Kathy Griffin and Ethan Klein… pic.twitter.com/aw8Yb5hKb9

— Sergio The One ♪ (@Sergio_TheOne) November 7, 2022

I would like to pay tribute to my good friend Simon, permanently banned from Twitter after switching his display name to be Elon Musk and posting. Forever silenced, so that freedom of speech may live on. I salute his sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/Vc4Sk9fYQX

— Fraser Lewry (@blogjam) November 3, 2022

Elon Musk, May 2022: Trump will be unbanned, because Twitter should not permanently ban any user

Elon Musk, November 2022: I will permanently ban any Twitter user who pretends to be me as a joke pic.twitter.com/qKKRf9P8s7

— Quinton Reviews (@Q_Review) November 7, 2022

Musk’s reign on Twitter continues but users will keep making their thoughts known.