While it’s not the first company to block virtual phone numbers from SMS authentication, the change could be linked to CEO Elon Musk’s aggressive moves to remove bot accounts from the platform.
The move appears to prevent users from using a Google Voice number to verify their account. Also, users who previously authenticated with Google Voice may not be able to access their accounts.
Ever since Musk bought Twitter and took over as CEO (he now says he’ll relinquish that title once he finds a successor), Musk has been determined to destroy bots on the platform. Earlier this month, Platformer reported that the company has blocked traffic from 30 mobile operators worldwide, including networks in Russia, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.
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The move blocked access to thousands of accounts, including legitimate accounts using these wireless carriers for 2FA. Musk accused the carriers of issuing fake texts to inflate Twitter’s contractual debt for SMS.
Anyone with a Gmail account can set up a free Google Voice number, making it an easy authentication tool for bots, scammers and spammers. While it may seem sensible to criticize this move, with its seemingly erratic revisions since Musk’s takeover, blocking virtual numbers from financial institutions to dating apps and 2FA is standard practice for most apps.
If you have set up your Twitter account with Google Voice authentication, you need to change the number without contacting support. You can go to Twitter Settings > Security and Account Access > Security > Two-Factor Authentication to remove this number and add your own carrier line.