Taking a Peek at Bluesky's Censorship Swerve
In compliance with censorship requests from Turkey, Bluesky concedes, however, a possible loophole remains.
The buzz around Bluesky, the microblogging counterpart to the oh-so-famous X, has been heating up lately, as netizens crave a social media haven untouched by self-aggrandizing tycoons. However, recent reports have shed a less-than-flattering light on Bluesky, revealing its concession to censorship demands from the Turkish government—a sticky wicket for a site that's positioned itself as a haven for free and open expression.
According to TechCrunch, Bluesky barred access to a hefty 72 Turkish accounts following the government's push. Turkish officials justified the move, citing reasons relating to "national security and public order"[1][2][3]. The mysterious identities and activities behind these accounts remain undisclosed. The account deactivations initially surfaced in a report by the Freedom of Expression Association, a Turkish NGO dedicated to civil liberties[4]. Bluesky has yet to comment on the matter publicly.
Interestingly, thanks to Bluesky's involvement in the Fediverse and its reliance on the open standard AT Protocol, there's a theoretical "wiggle room" for those Turkish users who were booted. Because Bluesky isn't simply a microblogging nook but also part of a semi-decentralized ecosystem of sites all running on the same protocol, the censored users might still find refuge among that constellation of other sites. These sites collectively go by the name "the Atmosphere," all powered by the AT Protocol, which originated from Bluesky Social PBC—the brainchild behind Bluesky[1][5]. They can be found online and via apps such as Skywalker, Skeets, and Roomy.
Bluesky was a passion project of former Twitter golden boy Jack Dorsey, who funneled in $13 million from Twitter itself. The idea for Bluesky sprouted when Jack was still calling the shots at Twitter[6]. Dorsey has since abandoned the project, with CEO Jay Graber now steering the ship.
With the takeover of Twitter by Elon Musk and its transformation into a propaganda pawn, swarms of users have flocked to Bluesky, enticed by its neutral reputation as an alternative to X. For quite some time, Bluesky has maintained that reputation by prioritizing its users and promoting an open system that champions self-expression and autonomy. However, the move to placate foreign censorship isn't exactly painting a rosy picture for the company, even if it offers a loophole that other sites lack.
[1] https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/20/22982381/bluesky-turkey-block-censorship-national-security-fediverse[2] https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/social/bluesky-finally-speaks-about-turkey-censorship-block/[3] https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/16/bluesky-turkey-block/[4] https://freedomassociation.org.tr/en/bluesky-reports-that-it-is-censoring-72-accounts-in-turkey/[5] https://www.redmondpie.com/bluesky-turkey-censorship-thread/[6] https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/bluesky-a-twitter-style-microblogging-network-is-back-after-support-from-jack-dorsey/[7] https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/11/23541710/bluesky-jack-dorsey-new-microblogging-platform-social-network-financing
- Gizmodo reported on the controversy surrounding Bluesky, a technology platform poised as a free expression haven, but now accused of censoring 72 Turkish accounts under Turkish government pressure.
- TechCrunch cited "national security and public order" as the justification for the account deactivations, with the identities and activities of those affected remaining undisclosed.
- Despite the censorship, there's a potential escape route for the affected users, as Bluesky is part of the Atmosphere, a semi-decentralized Fediverse network.
- Blossoming from Jack Dorsey's former Twitter investment, Bluesky offers a tech-driven spin on social media, focusing on user autonomy and self-expression, but recent events threaten to tarnish this reputation.
- In the midst of Elon Musk's takeover and transformation of Twitter, Bluesky finds itself as a beacon of neutrality, attracting users seeking an alternative to the political turbulence of mainstream social media.
- In the realm of technology, entertainment, politics, and general news, Bluesky's decision to cave to foreign censorship demands adds a layer of complexity to its stand as a champion for free expression.
- Other tech sites like TechCrunch and The Verge have been following the unfolding story, providing updates on Bluesky's response and the impact on its users.
