Bluesky blocks service in Mississippi because of age verification law
Social network Bluesky has decided to block access to its service in the state of Mississippi, rather than comply with a new age verification law.
In a blog post, the company explained that – as a small team – it did not have the resources to make the extensive technical changes that this law required. In addition, Bluesky expressed concerns about the broad scope of the law and the implications for privacy.
Also, Bluesky raised concerns about the broad scope of the law and the implications for privacy.
Mississippi’s HB 1126 requires platforms to set age verification for all users before allowing them to access social networks like Bluesky. This goes beyond verifying before accessing content: it applies to everyone. In addition, Bluesky must obtain parental consent for users under 18 and risks a fine of up to $10,000 per user per non-compliance.
Bluesky says the law creates significant barriers that limit freedom of expression and disproportionately disadvantage smaller platforms and emerging technologies.
Bluesky says the law creates significant barriers that limit freedom of expression and disproportionately disadvantage smaller platforms and emerging technologies.
In order to comply with the law, Bluesky would have to collect and store sensitive personal data from all users, and keep detailed records of who is a minor – something the company considers unfeasible. This is in contrast to how it operates in other regions, such as under the UK’s Online Safety Act, where age verification is only required for access to certain content or features.
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