Twitter's chaos could make political violence worse outside of the U.S.

The outside of Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco last month. The upheaval at the influential social media company threatens to make political violence worse around the world, according to human rights activists. (Constanza Hevia/AFP via Getty Images)

Impersonators paying for blue "verified" checkmarks. A decimated team of workers enforcing rules against hate speech and other violating posts. A mass reporting campaign by right-wing activists targeting political opponents.

Under the chaotic changes unleashed by Elon Musk, Twitter users in the U.S. are confronting problems that have long plagued the social network in other parts of the world – and which are at risk of getting even worse under its new billionaire owner, according to human rights and freedom of expression advocates.