Twitter Cracks Down on Account Verification Process: People Can Lose Blue Checks for Violating Guidelines

Twitter has recently been getting some flak for certain people who have gotten verified accounts, and they’re taking steps to address this.

A recent Vanity Fair article on Twitter’s “white nationalist verification problem” highlighted how the social media service has verified people like Richard Spencer and Charlottesville rally organizer Jason Kessler.

Well, Spencer and Kessler, along with a few others, lost their verification status today, as Twitter announced a review of their process:

1 / UPDATE on our verification program and the actions we're taking.

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 15, 2017

2 / Verification has long been perceived as an endorsement. We gave verified accounts visual prominence on the service which deepened this perception. We should have addressed this earlier but did not prioritize the work as we should have.

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 15, 2017

3 / This perception became worse when we opened up verification for public submissions and verified people who we in no way endorse.

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 15, 2017

4 / We're working on a new authentication and verification program. In the meantime, we are not accepting any public submissions for verification and have introduced new guidelines for the program. https://t.co/j6P0HGXIVq

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 15, 2017

5 / We are conducting an initial review of verified accounts and will remove verification from accounts whose behavior does not fall within these new guidelines. We will continue to review and take action as we work towards a new program we are proud of.

— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) November 15, 2017

“Promoting hate” or “inciting or engaging in harassment of others” can cause you to lose your verified status, per the guidelines on their site.

[image via Twitter]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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