Business Complies with Censorship Orders in Turkey, Yet Maintains a Limited Escape Route
Let's Chat about Bluesky, the Cool Microblogging Alternative to What's-His-Face's Platform
This microblogging site, known as Bluesky, has been skyrocketing in popularity recently as people look for a social media haven free from a certain egomaniacal billionaire's control. However, uncertainty has surfaced this week, with allegations that the site has succumbed to censorship demands from the Turkish government—an unexpected turn for a platform that's been all about freedom and openness.
After nudging from the Turkish authorities, Bluesky is said to have shut down access to 72 accounts. The reason? National security and public order, according to TechCrunch. Precisely who the account operators were and why the government felt threatened by them remain mostly unclear. Information first emerged from the Freedom of Expression Association, a Turkish NGO dedicated to civil liberties. The folks at Bluesky have yet to comment.
It's worth noting that, since Bluesky operates within the Fediverse and sways on the AT Protocol, a technical "loophole" exists for those Turkish users who've been booted off the platform. Because Bluesky isn't just a solo microblogging platform but a constituent of a semi-decentralized ecosystem of sites powered by the same protocol, these banned users may still be active on other subsidiary platforms like Skywalker, Skeets, and Roomy.
Bluesky's birth came from former Twitter maestro, Jack Dorsey, who funded it with a cool $13 million from the old Twitter coffers back in the day. Dorsey did the heavy lifting while he was still running Twitter in its prime, but he's long since transferred the reins to CEO Jay Graber.
With Elon Musk turning Twitter into his very own bully pulpit, masses of people have inevitably swarmed to Bluesky, which has maintained its pride as a reasonable alternative to what's now arguably a big mess. Bluesky has managed this reputation by respecting its users and developing a system that puts free expression and independence front and center. Unfortunately, its recent submission to pressure from foreign powers doesn't sit well with its user base, even if it offers a workaround that other sites might lack.
Trivia corridor:- The AT Protocol enables composable moderation, which can be flexibly adapted by country, raising questions about its potential role in sidestepping censorship demands.- The Freedom of Expression Association is a Turkish NGO focusing on civil liberties, which first reported the account deactivations.- The Fediverse is a decentralized network of independent servers, each running a different installation of microblogging software. Bluesky is part of this network.- Jack Dorsey left the project long before it became a separate entity from Twitter. He's no longer directly involved with the daily operations of Bluesky.
- Bluesky, a microblogging site founded by Jack Dorsey, has been garnering attention as a alternative to a certain platform due to its emphasis on freedom and openness.
- In a recent development, allegations have surfaced that Bluesky has complied with censorship demands from the Turkish government, leading to the deactivation of 72 accounts, according to TechCrunch.
- The shutdown of these accounts has raised concerns about the site's commitment to free expression, especially since the reasons for the closure remain unclear.
- However, due to its operation within the Fediverse and on the AT Protocol, some Turkish users who were booted off the platform may still be active on other subsidiary platforms.
- Gizmodo, a technologically focused publication, has yet to comment on the allegations of censorship from Bluesky.
- With Elon Musk's controversial leadership on Twitter, many have turned to Bluesky as a representative of social media that values free expression and independence.
- As the future of social media continues to evolve, Bluesky's recent actions in response to foreign pressures may have significant implications for the technology, entertainment, politics, and general-news sectors.
