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Billionaire Elon Musk mocked Massachusetts Democratic Senator Edward Markey after Markey expressed concerns about Twitter's verification process amid a rise in imposter accounts on the social media platform.
Twitter has had to contend with one crisis after another since Musk took ownership of the company, and much of that controversy has revolved around the $8 monthly cost of Musk's newly announced blue checkmark verification subscription, which effectively allows anyone to create a verified account and impersonate whoever they wish.
Markey tweeted Friday and shared a copy of a letter addressed to Musk that notes that a Washington Post reporter was able to demonstrate how easy it is to impersonate someone on the platform under Musk's new policies.
Markey called on Musk to stop "putting profits over people and his debt over stopping disinformation" and demanded that Twitter be held accountable.
\u201cA @washingtonpost reporter was able to create a verified account impersonating me\u2014I\u2019m asking for answers from @elonmusk who is putting profits over people and his debt over stopping disinformation. Twitter must explain how this happened and how to prevent it from happening again.\u201d— Ed Markey (@Ed Markey) 1668198109
Musk proceeded to mock Markey, suggesting that Markey's "real account sounds like a parody."
\u201c@SenMarkey @washingtonpost Perhaps it is because your real account sounds like a parody?\u201d— Ed Markey (@Ed Markey) 1668198109
In a follow-up tweet, he questioned why Markey is wearing a face mask in his Twitter profile picture, ignoring the fact that the world is still very much in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
\u201c@SenMarkey @washingtonpost And why does your pp have a mask!?\u201d— Ed Markey (@Ed Markey) 1668198109
Many have criticized Musk for his childish response.
\u201cThe biggest troll on Twitter. Ffs take the loss and sell, toddler.\u201d— Maarten VdA \ud83c\udf3b (@Maarten VdA \ud83c\udf3b) 1668386976
\u201cNot looking at the long game here my man.\n\nSee you in a Democrat-led Senate hearing next year!\u201d— Jennifer Bendery (@Jennifer Bendery) 1668361689
\u201cPretty obvious Musk has absolutely no interest in making Twitter into a reliable or trustworthy platform. \n\nHe's literally telling companies, governments, new media, celebrities, and investors that the platform cannot be trusted. \n\nGood luck paying off that note, man.\u201d— Stonekettle (@Stonekettle) 1668366084
\u201ci really cant wait to see this guy lose everything\u201d— malachite @ ltc (@malachite @ ltc) 1668367109
\u201c\u201cI know you are, but what am I?\u201d\n\nWe essentially have a teenage boy billionaire running a critically important global media platform.\u201d— Senator Scott Wiener (@Senator Scott Wiener) 1668380174
\u201cThe way this man speaks reminds me of a pudgy little I-pad baby sitting in a shopping cart\u201d— stinky (@stinky) 1668371753
\u201cBecause we\u2019re still in a global pandemic, Elmo\u201d— Gina (@Gina) 1668375051
\u201c\u201csmartest guy in the world\u201d spends his time questioning others\u2019 rational actions while championing \u201cfree speech\u201d\u201d— phillies 2023 world champs (@phillies 2023 world champs) 1668387552
Musk has repeatedly insisted that Twitter needs to go private if it wants to become a platform for free speech, though he has already come under fire for silencing his critics and spreading misinformation.
Several high-profile companies, including General Mills and Volkswagen, confirmed to CNN that they would be pausing advertisements on Twitter due to concerns about Musk's ownership of the platform. Others, like Toyota and Interpublic Group, the parent company of Coca-Cola, also recommended that their clients pause advertising on Twitter.
Criticisms about Musk's leadership style have been magnified in light of his decision to layoff roughly half the workforce, including employees who were on work visas. There was no advance warning for who would or would not be subject to the cuts, and at least one Twitter employee told reporters that they were booted from company systems in the middle of a meeting.