Twitter’s Blue Check System Is Still Messy Enough To Verify A Fake Senator Account – SlashGear

Surprisingly, the fake verified account was even mentioned in a tweet by the wife of Senator John Fetterman, serving as a reminder that the whole verification system is extremely vulnerable to being tricked. In his report, Fowler mentions that he used a temporary mobile number bought for $15 from T-Mobile, which he linked to the fake account, without having to submit any ID for it. Interestingly, Twitter didn’t ask for any form of identification before bestowing the blue checkmark on the account, even though the relaunched Twitter Blue system made identity checks mandatory to avoid impersonation. 

What is even more shocking is that Twitter did not do its due diligence, despite the account clearly claiming that it belongs to a high-ranking politician, which only amplifies the risk of misinformation. This is particularly concerning, as Musk has adopted a hardline approach toward impersonating another personality. Following some rather abrupt policy changes, Twitter has made it clear that it doesn’t take very kindly to changing usernames, either. “It’s an absolute joke that Elon Musk, who prides himself on being a tech entrepreneur, can’t implement a functioning verification regime,” Markey told Fowler.