Twitter sharia: Elon Musk verifies Jesus, but Mohammed is ‘suspended’
by Archbishop Cranmer:
Years ago when Twitter introduced the ‘Blue Tick’ or ‘Blue Checkmark’ verification, all the mainstream media along with most journalists, celebrities, corporate brands and others who had a public profile opted for it as an easy way of distinguishing their authentic presence online from the fakes, parodies, and malign actors whose motives were often to defame or cause others harm. Since the process of verification demanded official certification, business registration, passports and other proofs of identity ownership, it was an effective way of reassuring people that the account was authentically written and controlled by the person or business it claimed to be.
And since verification extended to social media like blogs, and some blogs have had a notable and established presence over many years, it made sense for Archbishop Cranmer to apply for his Blue Tick.
It was declined as ‘not eligible’ for verification because they don’t verify ‘these sorts of accounts’ (by which they seemed to mean dead people). This was confusing, given:
If the 16th-century terrorist Guido Fawkes qualified for a Blue Tick verification, why not a 16th-century Archbishop?
The powers that be at Twitter were asked (numerous times) about the disparity, but answer came there none.
It didn’t seem important anyway: the other Thomas Cranmers on Twitter were obviously fake and frivolous, so there was no danger of confusion or misrepresentation with the brand of @His_Grace.
But then Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion, and Blue Ticks are now for sale for $8/month. This is having some concerning ramifications, if not damaging consequences for prominent public figures and global brands:
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