They lost their verification checkmark because they changed their profile picture - I can't believe this is the abysmal level of competence in news reporting and UAW official. Utter embarrassment!
A paying customer can lose their check mark for changing their profile picture? That would be a bizarre policy if true? Is that really in the TOS? Source?
To minimize confusion and promote integrity on the platform, changes to your profile photo, display name, or username (@handle) will result in a temporary loss of the blue checkmark until your account is validated as continuing to meet our requirements. No further changes to your profile photo, display name, or username will be allowed during this review period.
Wow, that's so baffling. I can't imagine being logged into the account the service provided, changing my profile pic using they interface they provided, and them finding those actions suspicious enough to suspect I'm no longer who they think I am. Do they revoke your verified status if you post? If you log out and log back in? It's bonkers to punish users for using your service as intended. I would have expected that paying for verified status meant that they have enough information to be confident that they know my identity.
Reporting is pretty bad, yes. Everyone is polarized, looking for something to pin on Elon Musk.
But also just quietly hiding the checkmark when you change the picture is not proper user experience. Like... warn the user, at least. Show a note below the profile "your badge is temporarily hidden until we verify the profile photo you updated" or something.