Bluesky blocks Mississippi users over controversial age verification law
- Bluesky, a smaller social media platform, decided to block Mississippi users to avoid compliance with a stringent age verification law.
- The law, which requires verification for all users, raises concerns about privacy and the operational capacity of smaller platforms.
- Bluesky's actions reflect an ongoing trend where companies reconsider the feasibility of operating under increasingly restrictive state regulations.
In Mississippi, a recently enacted age verification law has led the social media platform Bluesky to block access to users in the state. The law mandates that all social media platforms must verify the ages of all users to ensure the safety of minors. Bluesky, which is often regarded as a leftist alternative to Elon Musk's platform, X, claims the requirement poses significant technical challenges and would infringe on user privacy. The company specifically noted that complying with the law would necessitate the collection and storage of sensitive user data, which raises concerns about free speech and the viability of smaller platforms. Bluesky's chief executive, Jay Graber, acknowledged the growing pains of the platform as it attracts new users at a rapid pace, sharing that they receive tens of thousands of moderation reports daily, including concerning reports of child sexual abuse material. Despite acknowledging safety concerns, the platform has criticized the law's broad scope and its potential to limit free expression and the operational capacity of smaller tech companies. As other states follow suit with similar age verification laws, there is a mounting fear that such regulations could engender a two-tiered internet, creating barriers to access for users based on their geographic location. This trend raises critical implications not only for user privacy and freedom of expression but also for future internet regulation in the United States.