Twitter has waded into what is undoubtedly its most significant and defining debate; one which will finally scrub the platform of its problems and give users an infinitely better experience: removing fake Elon Musk accounts.

The social media giant says it has taken the action as a response to scammers posing as Musk and tricking people into sending them cryptocurrency.

Fake accounts have been mimicking his handle and profile picture and replying to Twitter threads by the real Musk, promising free cash or Tesla cars to make amends for controversies like Musk baselessly calling the British Thai cave rescue diver Vernon Unsworth a "pedo" – something he later apologised for.

Elon Musk speaks onstage at Elon Musk Answers Your Questions! in March 2018pinterest
Chris Saucedo/Getty Images for SXSW

Now Twitter has taken action and locked the accounts of anyone who puts Elon Musk into their handle on the platform.

According to a statement by Twitter (via The Verge) they are "testing new measures to challenge accounts that use terms commonly associated with spam campaigns".

A nice line, but could it be that Musk was more riled by his Italian counterpart – he of rarefied Twitter gems such as "I just a invent a new fruit, I call it a da 'tomato'!! I come up a with this all by myself!! Ohhh disruptiano!!" – which has sadly now been banned.

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In lieu of being able to use his real name people have been getting creative with alternatives.

It's also annoyed people who have been quick to point out that Twitter isn't taking the same punitive action on bonafide Nazis using the app.


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