Elon Musk Permanently Banning Twitter ‘Parody’ Accounts With No Warning Causes Major Backlash

Following his official acquisition of Twitter, Elon Musk proudly announced

Twitter

parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");, “Comedy is now legal on Twitter.”

Apparently, that statement should have come with an asterisk and a disclaimer.

On Sunday, tweeting from his own personal Twitter account, Musk changed his tune, writing, “Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended.”

While this policy itself is now exactly new, what is new is that Musk also announced that anyone violating this rule will no longer receive any sort of warning before being suspended.

What makes Musk’s announcement even more unusual (aside from the fact he is announcing Twitter policy changes on his personal account and not a company account) is that Twitter’s “Misleading and deceptive identities policy” still clearly states that warnings can be issued.

Profile modifications

If your account is potentially confusing in terms of its affiliation, we may require you to edit the content on your profile. If you violate this policy again after your first warning, your account will be permanently suspended.

Temporary account suspension

If we believe you may be in violation of this policy, we may require you to provide government issued identification (such as a driver’s license or passport) in order to reinstate your account.

Permanent suspension

If you are engaged in impersonation or are using a misleading or deceptive fake identity, we may permanently suspend your account.

Numerous Twitter accounts that were a parody of Elon Musk’s Twitter account have been suspended

Interestingly, the same day that Elon Musk tweeted “Comedy is now legal on Twitter,” he also stated

Twitter

, “Twitter will be forming a content moderation council with widely diverse viewpoints. No major content decisions or account reinstatements will happen before that council convenes.”

Based on several reports, it doesn’t appear that this new policy was made with any input from a content moderation panel, just Musk himself.

The most commonly reported Twitter “parody” accounts being banned are those who have been making fun of the new owner of Twitter, Elon Musk.

Comedian Kathy Griffin had her Twitter account suspended for tweeting about the midterm elections using Musk’s name.

Musk then joked

Twitter

, “Actually, she was suspended for impersonating a comedian.”

He later

Twitter

, “But if she really wants her account back, she can have it … For $8.”

Australian satire website The Chaser was also among those suspended for changing its username to “Elom Musk.” It had its account reinstated when it then changed its username to “Elon Musk Fondles Dogs.”

“So basically all of the new rules made for Twitter are going to be rules based on whatever pissed you off regarding your own account that week. Sounds impulsive and completely on brand. Bravo,” one Twitter user, among many,

Twitter

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