Alex Finley

RT @[email protected]

Oops! I did again, @[email protected]:

I created a Twitter account pretending to be @[email protected] (with his permission) and applied for Blue “verification.”

And once again, Twitter took my $8, asked zero questions and gave the fake account a blue checkmark.

https://wapo.st/3VHo2Qg

🐦🔗: https://twitter.com/geoffreyfowler/status/1611018186962653193

Twitter said it fixed ‘verification.’ So I impersonated a senator (again).

Elon Musk said Twitter would begin authenticating users who pay $8 for Blue. Our tech columnist was still able to get a checkmark for an impostor Sen. Ed Markey.

The Washington Post
Jan 5, 2023 at 4:26pmWeb
Show threadPaul AlvarezJan 5, 2023
@alexzfinley this is interesting but the fact that it requires a unique phone number might dissuade a lot of poeole from trying this. A $15, 1-month, T-Mobile plan isn’t that simple of a step (even if it didn’t require an ID to do so). The fact that no ID or any other kind of verification still isn’t required is weird. I’m not sure what Twitter is truly “verifying” in this process.
Show threadJesuis  JedničkaJan 5, 2023
@alexzfinley seems renamed, not created? Oct'10 is not a fresh date.
Show threadBret CarmichaelJan 5, 2023
@alexzfinley @briankrebs Instead of “Verified account,” the badge should say, “User has $8.”
Show threadStuart Longland (VK4MSL)Jan 5, 2023

@alexzfinley @[email protected]

"Verified [the user has money]", nothing more.

What genius thought this was a good idea…? Oh!