Probably but they’ve designated others to do it. Like a trusted organization (Wired or The NY Times) can verify people. Some of the developers seemed hostile.

But who gives a fuck about a blue check anyway? Even before Elon, it was a gag on Twitter when some fucking moron who interned at Reason or some shit got a big head about it and wrote as a clown to be laughed at. “Some personal news, I’m now the assistant associate dipshit at the newspaper they try to give you for free when you get on the subway.”