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Twitter's Impersonation policy

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← Back to Twitter's Impersonation policy revisions

See exactly what changed in Twitter's Impersonation policy on 25 March 2022.

What is not an impersonation policy violation?

Accounts with similar usernames or that are similar in appearance (e.g., the same profile image) are not automatically in violation of the impersonation policy. In order to violate our impersonation policy, the account must portray another entity in a misleading or deceptive manner.

An account will not be removed if:

The user shares your name but has no other commonalities, or

The profile clearly states it is not affiliated with or connected to any similarly-named individuals or brands.

Twitter users are allowed to create parody, newsfeed, commentary, or fan accounts. Please refer to Twitter’s parody, newsfeed, commentary, and fan account policy for more information about these types of accounts.

When does Twitter review accounts under this policy?

We review impersonation claims upon receipt of a valid impersonation report. We do not actively monitor users’ content.

How do I file an impersonation report?

If you are the impersonated party or an authorized representative, you can file an impersonation report. If you believe an account is impersonating somebody else, you can flag it as a bystander by reporting directly from the account’s profile.

Please note, submitting a report with incomplete information will delay the processing of your report.

Can I request a specific username?

We generally do not accept individual requests for inactive or suspended usernames.

What if my trademark is being misused?

Companies and businesses should report accounts misusing their trademarks by filing a complaint under our trademark policy. Please review the trademark policy page for more information.

What happens if you violate this policy?

If we determine that you violated our impersonation policy, we may suspend your account. In some instances, an account may be permanently suspended upon first review. If you believe that your account was suspended in error, you can submit an appeal.

Profile modifications

If your account is potentially confusing in terms of its affiliation, we may require you to edit the content on your profile. If you violate this policy again after your first warning, your account will be permanently suspended.

Temporary account suspension

If we believe you may be in violation of this policy, we may require you to provide government issued identification (such as a driver’s license or passport) in order to reinstate your account.

Permanent suspension

If you are engaged in impersonation or are using a misleading or deceptive fake identity, we may permanently suspend your account.

If you believe that your account was locked or suspended in error, you can submit an appeal.

Additional resources

Learn more about our range of enforcement options and our approach to policy development and enforcement.

To report an account that may be misusing your trademark, please see our trademark policy. For information about our spam rules, you can read more on our platform manipulation and spam policy.