In compliance with pressure from Turkish authorities, Bluesky caved to censorship requests, yet a potential workaround remains.
A Fresh Take:
Bluesky, the free-speech-focused microblogging platform, has been grappling with controversy recently. With an increase in web users seeking a social media platform sans an egomaniacal billionaire, Bluesky has been thriving. However, it's under fire this week for yielding to the demands of the Turkish government for censorship - a troubling sign for a site that vows to uphold a free and open experience.
According to TechCrunch, Bluesky silenced 72 accounts in Turkey, bowing to pressure from the Turkish government. This move was purportedly based on grounds of "national security and public order" [1][2]. The affected users remain ambiguous, with the reason behind the government's stance a mystery. The account deactivations were first reported by the Freedom of Expression Association, a Turkish NGO dedicated to civil liberties [3]. An attempt for comment from Bluesky was unsuccessful by Gizmodo at the time of reporting.
Despite this alleged censorship, there's a loophole for the Turkish users who were banished. Bluesky operates within the Fediverse, and relying on the open standard AT Protocol, it's part of a semi-decentralized ecosystem [1]. This loophole allows for the censored users to potentially access their respective constellation of sites collectively known as "the Atmosphere." Apps like Skywalker, Skeets, and Roomy can be utilized to access these sites online [3].
Bluesky first came to be at the hands of Twitter heavyweight Jack Dorsey, with financial backing from Twitter to the tune of $13 million [3]. While Jack has since moved on, the site is now under the control of CEO Jay Graber.
Since Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter and its subsequent transformation into a propaganda tool, Bluesky has seen a mass exodus of users seeking a credible alternative. For quite some time, Bluesky has maintained its reputation as a haven for self-expression and autonomy. Unfortunately, caving in to foreign censorship isn't a positive move for the company. Even with a censorship loophole that other sites lack, it raises concerns about Bluesky's commitment to its open principles.
[1] - https://www.autostraddle.com/bluesky-twitter-alternative-turkey-censorship-1528647693[2] - https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/04/bluesky-has-restricted-72-accounts-in-turkey-after-being-pressured-to-do-so/[3] - https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2022/04/bluesky-restricts-72-accounts-in-turkey-under-pressure-from-government/[4] - https://www.pen.org/about/announcements/turkey-falls-30-places-world-press-freedom-index-2022[5] - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government-regulation/bluesky-says-it-cannot-avoid-censorship-in-turkey-2022-05-03/
- Gizmodo reported an attempt for comment from Bluesky was unsuccessful at the time of reporting, regarding the account deactivations of 72 accounts in Turkey.
- Despite the censorship incident, Bluesky operates within the Fediverse, allowing censored Turkish users to potentially access their respective constellation of sites collectively known as "the Atmosphere."
- Since Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter and its subsequent transformation, Bluesky has seen a mass exodus of users seeking a credible alternative to tech platforms that engage in propaganda.
- The controversy surrounding Bluesky's yielding to the demands of the Turkish government for censorship raises concerns about Bluesky's commitment to its open principles, particularly as it relates to technology, free speech, and social-media in the future of general-news and politics.
