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X's new parody labels won't fix its impersonation problem

X is trying to clamp down on impersonation on the platform with a new label for parody accounts. But the label isn't mandatory yet, which could make it largely toothless.

We designed these labels to increase transparency and to ensure that users are not deceived into thinking such accounts belong to the entity being parodied," X wrote in an announcement. Scammers who impersonate, say, X owner Elon Musk in an attempt to squeeze some bitcoin out of other users won't exactly be inclined to put the label on their accounts. And those who simply don't care about having their account banned by imitating a legitimate news outlet, brand or celebrity to spread misinformation are unlikely to either.

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