Bluesky Yields to Turkey's Censorship Requests, Leaving a Potential Loophole Unexplored
Whether you're fed up with Twitter's bossy big-shot owner or just yearning for a social media platform that screams freedom, Bluesky's got you covered. This up-and-coming microblogging site's been storming through the web, promising users a haven from the corporate gloom. Unfortunately, Bluesky's recent submission to Turkish governmental pressures has cast a shadow on its promise of a liberated online landscape.
According to a new exposé by TechCrunch, Bluesky bowed to the demands of Turkey's very own Big Brother, silencing 72 accounts in the name of "national security and public order." It's not exactly clear who the guilty parties were, but it seems the Turkish powers-that-be deemed them a threat. The whole nightmare was revealed by the Freedom of Expression Association, a Turkish NGO dedicated to defending human rights. Gizmodo reached out to Bluesky for a statement, but, as usual, they've been pretty tight-lipped.
Interestingly, Bluesky's part of the Fediverse, a semi-decentralized network of sites powered by the open standard AT Protocol. This means that if you've been kicked out of Bluesky for being a troublemaker, there's a loophole—you can bounce over to other Fediverse sites like Skywalker, Skeets, or Roomy to keep your digital soapbox standing. It's a bit like having a backup plan for banning.
Bluesky first popped onto the scene, courtesy of Jack Dorsey, the former mastermind behind Twitter. He poured an impressive $13 million into the project from Twitter's coffers. But once Dorsey left the building, Bluesky was left in the capable hands of CEO Jay Graber.
With Twitter under new ownership and turning into Elon Musk's own media mouthpiece, Bluesky's seen a swarm of new users eager to escape the chaos. For a while, Bluesky was living up to its promise of a cleaner, kinder social media experience, encouraging self-expression and autonomy. However, the Turkish tango may have tarnished its spotless rep a tad.
While Bluesky still serves as a refreshing change from the swamp that is X, the capitulation to foreign censorship is less than encouraging. Even with its clever sidestep for censored users, other platforms—ironically—avoid this awkward dance, making Bluesky's decision look mighty uncomfortable.
- The tech world, particularly social media, has witnessed the rise of Bluesky, a microblogging site often associated with freedom, challenging the corporate dominance.
- A recent report by TechCrunch unveiled that Bluesky complied with Turkey's censorship demands, silencing 72 accounts, casting doubts on its promise of a free online environment.
- Being part of the Fediverse, a network of semi-decentralized sites, offers Bluesky's censored users a potential escape route to other platforms like Skywalker, Skeets, or Roomy.
- Founded by Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, and now under the leadership of CEO Jay Graber, Bluesky has attracted a surge of new users seeking a respite from the chaos on Twitter, as it morphs under Elon Musk's leadership.
