- Twitter warned Elon Musk before he launched his new badge system. per Platformer.
- The trust and security team stated that the rework would lead to confusion and impersonation problems.
- Twitter also stated that it doesn’t have an automated method to verify users who don’t pay $8 for a badge.
Elon Musk was warned by his lawyer about the potential impersonation problems and confusion that would result from selling blue checkmarks at $8. He did it anyway.
Twitter’s trust-and-safety staff issued the warning one week before the billionaire changed his verification system. per Platformer. The tech newsletter’s founder Casey Newton and editor Zoë Schiffer cited an internal seven-page document from the team that was circulated on November 1.
Platformer reported Monday that Twitter’s team had highlighted the dangers Musk’s plans for Twitter Blue in the document and made recommendations to him on how to avoid them.
Musk and Alex Spiro (his attorney) were briefed regarding the document. Esther Crawford, a director in product management at Twitter was also briefed, according to the newsletter. An insider couldn’t independently verify the document and determine who it was that sent.
Platformer reports that the trust and safety team recommended against “impersonation” of high-profile individuals, such as politicians, brand partners and advertisers.
Platformer reported that the team predicted that scammers and bad actors would pay $8 to obtain a checkmark.
The predicted scenario was quickly realized when Twitter launched its paid-badge service on November 9th. Scammers and spoofers pretended to be official accounts. Ex-President George W. Bush, Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company, and Musk’s Tesla company.
Eli Lilly is the perfect example. Verification trolls declared that Insulin is Free” This caused the company’s stock prices to go up nosedive.
Twitter’s $8 subscription model was halted on Thursday after a torrent of fake accounts. The Washington Post reported.
Platformer reports that the trust and safety team highlighted in their memo the potential consequences of removing checkmarks on accounts that were verified before Musk purchased Twitter.
According to the site, “Removing privileges or exemptions from legacy verified account could cause confusion and loss trust among high-profile users.” “Legacy authentication is an important signal in enforcing impersonation laws, and the loss of which could lead to an increase on Twitter in impersonation high-profile accounts.”
Twitter doesn’t have an automatic way to verify accounts that don’t pay $8 verified badges per Platformer, according to the team.
The team warned that there were approximately 400,000 verified Twitter users and that employees would have to take off a large number of badges. This would require “high operational lift without investing,” according to the site.
Musk’s new verification badge system is being introduced as a result. Twitter cut half its global workforce and reported that it was losing $4 Million per day.. An earlier meeting of all hands saw the billionaire tell staff that he has sold billions in his business. Tesla stock to keep Twitter afloat
“Please be aware that Twitter will do many dumb things in the coming months.” On Thursday, he tweeted. “We will preserve what works and modify what doesn’t.”
Insider asked Musk and Spiro for comment but did not respond immediately.
