Twitter's new blue check rules expose election offices to spoof accounts
on Twitter used to be easy. The account for the city commissioners who run elections, @phillyvotes, was the only one carrying a blue check mark, a sign of authenticity.But ever since the social media platform overhauled its verification service last month, the check mark has disappeared.
That’s made it harder to distinguish @phillyvotes from a list of random accounts not run by the elections office but with very similar names.The election commission applied weeks ago for a gray check mark — Twitter’s new symbol to help users identify official government accounts – but has yet to hear back from the Twitter, commission spokesman Nick Custodio said.
It’s unclear whether @phillyvotes is an eligible government account under Twitter’s new rules.That’s troubling, Custodio said, because Pennsylvania has a primary election May 16 and the commission uses its account to share important information with voters in real time.
If the account remains unverified, it will be easier to impersonate – and harder for voters to trust – heading into Election Day.READ MORE: Social media app Clapper touted as an adult version of TikTokImpostor accounts on social media are among many concerns election security experts have heading into next year's presidential election.
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