Social media giant Twitter has announced suspension of its verification program after an outpour of anger over how it is running the program.
There have been concerns about the verification of the organizer of a neo-Nazi rally in August in Charlottesville, US whose account received a blue checkmark.
The account of Jason Kessler, a far-right activist was verified by Twitter this week. Kessler tweeted after the death of an anti-racist protester Heather Heyer saying Heyer was a “fat, disgusting Communist” whose death “was payback time.”
He further wrote that it “Looks like I FINALLY got verified by Twitter. I must be the only working class white advocate with that distinction.”
Due to concerns over these comments Twitter has explained in a tweet that, “Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance,”
Twitter said it recognizes “that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. We have paused all general verifications while we work and will report back soon.”
Jack Dorsey, Twitter CEO said the system is broken and needs to be reconsidered.
Source: Africafeeds.com
