Bluesky blocks Mississippi access over age-verification law

Bluesky has halted access to its decentralized social platform for users in Mississippi in response to the state’s new age-assurance law, which requires universal age verification and parental consent before allowing anyone under 18 to use social networks. The move comes after the Supreme Court declined to intervene to block the law from taking effect, leaving Bluesky with a hard choice between costly compliance and continued access for Mississippi residents. The company said the penalties for noncompliance could reach up to $10,000 per user, a figure that, given its small team and limited resources, would be difficult to absorb while maintaining its broader project goals.

Mississippi’s HB 1125/1126 mandates that platforms implement age verification for all users and identify and track which accounts belong to minors, in addition to collecting sensitive personal information to verify ages and obtain parental consent for those under 18. Bluesky characterized the law as sweeping beyond child safety aims and potentially chilling free expression, arguing that it would create substantial privacy risks and barriers to innovation. The company noted that, unlike some larger platforms,...