Study – Pro-Russian Twitter accounts are buying verification ticks

The profiles spread Russian misinformation about the war of aggression in Ukraine and stirred up sentiment against Western support for the country, the Washington Post reports, citing findings from the US research group Reset.

The tick symbols for verified accounts used to be awarded by Twitter to celebrities, politicians or companies after verification. With tech billionaire Elon Musk as the new owner, users can buy it for eight US dollars a month by taking out a paid subscription. It has been announced for the future that posts by subscription customers will be placed more visibly on Twitter.