X Verifies Fake Account of Nepal’s Chief Justice with Gray Tickmark; Supreme Court Objects

X (formerly known as Twitter) mistakenly verified a fake account impersonating Nepal’s Chief Justice with a gray tick mark, which is typically reserved for government and official organizations. The incident has sparked significant concern and criticism, prompting the Nepal Supreme Court to formally object.

The gray verification tick mark, introduced by Twitter to distinguish government and institutional accounts, was incorrectly assigned to the fraudulent profile, misleading the public into believing it represented the Chief Justice or the Supreme Court of Nepal. This error has raised concerns about the platform’s verification process and its ability to prevent the spread of misinformation, particularly regarding high-profile figures and institutions.

The fraudulent account, under the name “Mr. Prakash Nepal @SupremeCourtNP,” used a photo of Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, further deceiving the public into believing it was an official government profile. It posted and shared misleading and defamatory content, potentially harming the judiciary’s reputation and causing public confusion.

In response, the Personal Secretariat of the Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Nepal, swiftly issued a press release clarifying that the Chief Justice does not have an official X account. The statement, signed by Deputy Registrar Naveen Kumar Yadav, denounced the impersonation and urged the public not to be misled by false information circulating online.

The Supreme Court has called for the immediate removal of the misleading account and its content. Additionally, it has urged authorities to take legal action against those responsible for spreading misinformation under the country’s prevailing laws.