Twitter-Like Platform Bluesky Conforms to Turkey's Censorship Requests, Yet Retains an Escape Route
Chillin' on Bluesky, the Twitter alternative
A breath of fresh air for those disillusioned with the big-name billionaire-led social media platforms, Bluesky has been on a roll. Yet, this week, the cat's out of the bag - Bluesky appears to be swaying towards censorship, much to the dismay of its user base.
According to a recent report, Bluesky caved to pressure from the Turkish government, restricting access to 72 accounts. The Turkish authorities justified these restrictions due to national security and public order concerns, as per TechCrunch.
The identities of the account operators and the reasons behind the government's concerns remain shrouded in mystery. The account deactivations were first brought to light by the Freedom of Expression Association, a Turkish NGO dedicated to civil liberties. Bluesky has yet to comment on the matter.
Although Bluesky's submission to censorship may seem like a blow, the innovative nature of the platform offers a glimmer of hope. As a part of the Fediverse, a semi-decentralized ecosystem of sites, Bluesky relies on the open standard AT Protocol. Thus, for those Turkish users who were banned, a technical "loophole" exists. Because Bluesky isn't just a microblogging platform but also a part of this interconnected ecosystem, the censored users can potentially utilize other sites like Skywalker, Skeets, and Roomy that run on this same AT Protocol.
Once the brainchild of Twitter guru Jack Dorsey (yes, that guy), with a whopping $13 million investment from Twitter, Bluesky initially took shape when Jack was still at the helm of Twitter. However, Jack has since moved on, and Bluesky is currently headed by CEO Jay Graber.
With Elon Musk taking over Twitter and turning it into his personal propaganda toolbox, a massive exodus of users has flocked to Bluesky, seeking a cleaner alternative. For a long time, Bluesky upheld its reputation as a sanctuary for free speech and open expression. Unfortunately, this move towards accommodation of foreign censorship does little to enhance its image, even with the workaround offered by other sites that lack it.
So, how much can we really trust these supposedly free-speech champions? The lines are blurring every day, and only time will tell where the pendulum swings.
- Despite its initial promise as an alternative to big-name social media platforms, Bluesky's recent move towards censorship has led many to question its commitment to free speech.
- The Turkish government reportedly pressured Bluesky to restrict access to 72 accounts, citing national security and public order concerns, a decision made public by TechCrunch.
- The exact identities of the account operators and the reasons behind the Turkish government's concerns are yet unclear, sparking criticism from organizations like the Freedom of Expression Association.
- As part of the Fediverse, Bluesky's reliance on the open standard AT Protocol presents a possible technical workaround for those Turkish users who have been banned.
- Initially conceived by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, Bluesky received a significant investment from Twitter before Jack's departure from the platform.
- The current CEO of Bluesky, Jay Graber, is now at the helm, overseeing a platform that has seen a surge in users fleeing the more controversially managed Twitter, particularly following Elon Musk's takeover.
- With its reputation as a sanctuary for free speech, the recent accommodation of foreign censorship by Bluesky raises concerns about its commitment to upholding open expression—concerns that only time will confirm as the lines between tech giants and their policies continue to blur.
