Top Highlights
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Access Denied: Users in Mississippi can no longer access the Bluesky app due to the state’s new age verification law that Bluesky cannot comply with given its limited resources.
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Compliance Challenges: Unlike the UK’s Online Safety Act, Mississippi’s law requires full age verification for all users, imposing a heavy burden on small platforms like Bluesky.
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Financial Risks: Bluesky faces penalties of up to $10,000 per user for non-compliance, making it financially impractical to implement the necessary verification and compliance systems.
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Innovation Stifled: The law disproportionately benefits larger tech companies, hindering competition and innovation among smaller platforms like Bluesky, which are now effectively sidelined.
Bluesky has blocked access to its app for users in Mississippi. This action follows the state’s new age verification law, which poses significant challenges for the decentralized social media network.
According to Bluesky, the law “would fundamentally change” how it operates. The platform explained that it cannot comply due to its small team and limited resources. Specifically, Mississippi’s law requires all users to submit sensitive data to prove their ages. This process contrasts sharply with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which only requires age checks for specific content and features.
Mississippi’s law mandates that Bluesky track users under 18 and ensure they do not access harmful material. The Supreme Court recently decided not to intervene in this legislation, allowing it to take effect.
Bluesky voiced concerns about the heavy financial burden these requirements impose. It risks penalties of up to $10,000 per non-compliant user. As a result, only large tech firms can afford to build the necessary compliance infrastructure, which reinforces their dominance. This situation stifles innovation and competition, elements that ultimately benefit users.
Due to these factors, Bluesky now displays a message to users in Mississippi, explaining why they cannot access the service. This move highlights ongoing debates about age verification laws and their impact on technology and user access.
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