Twitter has launched a subscription service for $7.99 a month that includes a blue check that is now given only to verified accounts, as new owner Elon Musk overhauls the platform’s verification system just before the United States midterm elections. In an update for Apple iOS devices, Twitter on Saturday said users who “sign up now” can get the blue check next to their names “just like the celebrities, companies and politicians you already follow.” So far, verified accounts don’t seem to be losing their checks. Whoever can get the blue check could lead to confusion and a rise in misinformation ahead of Tuesday’s election if fraudsters decide to pay for the subscription and co-opt the names of politicians and election officials. Along with the widespread layoffs that began Friday, many fear that the social platform used by civil services, election boards, police departments and news outlets to keep people reliably informed could become illegal if surveillance and content verification removed. The change represents the end of Twitter’s current verification system, which was launched in 2009 to prevent impersonation of high-profile accounts such as celebrities and politicians. Before the overhaul, Twitter had about 423,000 verified accounts, many of which were journalists from around the world who were verified by the company regardless of how many followers they had. Experts have raised serious concerns about the rollback of the platform’s verification system that, while not perfect, helped Twitter’s 238 million daily users determine whether the accounts they received information from were authentic. Current verified accounts include celebrities, athletes, influencers and other high-profile public figures, along with government bodies and politicians worldwide, journalists and news agencies, activists, as well as businesses and brands. Also on Saturday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged Musk to ensure that respect for human rights is central to the social network, in an open letter. “Like all companies, Twitter needs to understand the vulnerabilities associated with its platform and take steps to address them. Respect for our common human rights should set the guardrails for the use and evolution of the platform. In short, I urge you to ensure that human rights are central to your management of Twitter under your leadership,” Turk wrote.