Government censorship has recently impacted Bluesky, a social network, particularly in Turkey, where authorities demanded restrictions on 72 accounts. A recent report from the Freedom of Expression Association confirmed that 59 accounts were blocked under the guise of protecting “national security and public order,” limiting access for users in Turkey.
This situation is particularly concerning given that many Turkish users had migrated to Bluesky to escape government censorship prevalent on platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter). The swift compliance by Bluesky has sparked debate within the community about its open and decentralised nature, with users questioning whether it is effectively different from Twitter.
Despite this challenge, some technical features of Bluesky allow users to bypass these restrictions more easily than on X. Unlike Mastodon, which offers greater flexibility in avoiding censorship by allowing users to switch between different servers, Bluesky’s official app does not permit users to opt-out of its moderation services. This includes geographic moderation labels, which limit access based on user location, such as the recent Turkish moderation measures.
However, third-party Bluesky apps, which are built on the AT Protocol, do not necessarily need to implement the same moderation policies. As a result, users can potentially access censored accounts without facing the restrictions imposed by the official app. Notable third-party apps like Skeets and Ouranos allow access to content not visible through Bluesky’s official platform. This is because these apps are currently not forced to adopt geographic moderation, enabling them to bypass local censorship.
Yet, this workaround may not be permanent. If these alternative apps gain sufficient popularity, it is possible that the Turkish government could approach them with demands to enforce similar restrictions. Additionally, developers of these third-party applications have shown little urgency to implement geographic labelers, often due to the extra workload involved and their smaller user bases, which allow them to operate under governmental radar.
One developer, Aviva Ruben, is working on an alternative Bluesky client named Deer.social, which provides users with the option to disable official moderation. This feature allows users to configure their location settings deliberately, enabling them to circumvent geographic blocks.
While the current censorship concerns focus on Turkey, they raise alarms about potential future government intervention from other countries, including the U.S., extending beyond content deemed explicitly illegal. Ruben’s future plans for Deer.social indicate a proactive approach to maintaining access through the introduction of a “no location” option, minimising reliance on geographic labeling.
Despite the emergence of alternative paths to access content, Bluesky is undeniably facing the challenge of censorship in its platform. The move toward restrictions marks a significant shift in the platform’s operation, prompting users and developers alike to seek new solutions for fostering free expression.
Fanpage: TechArena.au
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