This appears to no longer be the case in Python 3:

    $ python2
    Python 2.7.13 (default, Jul 21 2017, 03:24:34) 
    >>> () = []
      File "<stdin>", line 1
    SyntaxError: can't assign to ()
    >>>

    $ python3
    Python 3.6.2 (default, Jul 20 2017, 03:52:27) 
    >>> () = []
    >>>