Bluesky Caves to Pressure for Censorship in Turkey, Leaving a Pathway for Evasion
** step into the world of Bluesky, a microblogging platform challenging the limitations of mainstream social media**
Recently, the spotlight on Bluesky has been a mix of praise and concern, following its submission to censorship pressures from the Turkish government
According to a recent report, Bluesky blocked access to 72 accounts in Turkey, yielding to administrative pressure. The Turkish authorities justified the need for censorship due to reasons connected to "national security and public order," as reported by TechCrunch.
It's unclear who managed the accounts under scrutiny, or what threats these accounts posed to Turkey's security. This initial report was made by the Freedom of Expression Association, a Turkish non-governmental organization dedicated to civil liberties. Representatives from Bluesky have yet to comment on the matter.
Given Bluesky's membership in the Fediverse and reliance on the open AT Protocol, there is a technical possibility for those Turkish users who were barred from the platform to bypass the censorship by leveraging various third-party apps integrated into the Fediverse, such as Skywalker, Skeets, and Roomy. These sites, collectively known as "the Atmosphere," can be accessed online.
Bluesky was conceived by former Twitter mastermind Jack Dorsey, initially funded with a generous $13 million investment from Twitter itself. Dorsey departed from the project, leaving Bluesky in the capable hands of CEO Jay Graber.
As Elon Musk acquired Twitter and transformed it into his personal echo chamber, thousands of individuals have sought refuge in Bluesky, attracted by its promise of an inclusive alternative. For a prolonged period, Bluesky has lived up to this image, preserving a culture that cherishes self-expression and autonomy. However, its recent move to appease foreign censorship raises troubling questions, even though it provides a loophole for censorship circumvention that other platforms lack.
The controversy surrounding Bluesky's stance on censorship serves as a timely reminder of the importance of free speech and upholding a decentralized ethos in the face of external pressures. Despite its community-driven moderation models, the recent concession to Turkish authorities may call into question Bluesky's commitment to a truly open platform.
- Initiatives like Bluesky, a microblogging platform, are challenging the conventional norms of mainstream social media, but their approaches to sensitive topics, such as censorship, remain under scrutiny.
- In a recent development, Bluesky compliance with censorship demands from the Turkish government led to the blockage of 72 accounts, according to reports by TechCrunch.
- The reasons for censoring these accounts, as stated by the Turkish authorities, were related to national security and public order.
- The specific nature of these accounts and the threats they might have posed are yet to be clarified, as Bluesky has yet to publicly address the issue.
- Given that Bluesky operates within the Fediverse and employs the open AT Protocol, it's technically feasible for Turkish users to bypass the imposed censorship using third-party apps integrated into the Fediverse, such as Skywalker, Skeets, and Roomy.
- Bluesky was initially conceived by Jack Dorsey, with significant investment from Twitter, and is now led by CEO Jay Graber.
- As Elon Musk reshapes Twitter, Bluesky has emerged as an attractive alternative due to its commitment to fostering an inclusive, self-expressive, and autonomous digital space, but the recent actions taken to comply with foreign censorship demands prompt concerns about the platform's long-term commitment to openness and freedom of speech.
