Bluesky's Compliance Challenges with EU Digital Services Act

Bluesky Faces Scrutiny from the EU for Non-Compliance with the Digital Services Act

The European Union has recently raised concerns regarding Bluesky, a social media platform considered a potential alternative to Twitter. According to Reuters, the EU claims that Bluesky violates the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) rules related to information disclosure.

Understanding the Digital Services Act (DSA)

The Digital Services Act is a legislative framework designed to regulate online platforms, ensuring they are transparent and accountable for the content hosted on their services. The DSA requires platforms to provide a dedicated page that outlines their user base in the EU and details regarding their legal establishment.

EU's Position on Bluesky

During a press briefing, European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier commented on the situation, stating:

"All platforms in the EU... have to have a dedicated page on their website where it says how many users they have in the EU and where they are legally established. This is not the case for Bluesky as of today. This is not followed."

Current Status and Growth of Bluesky

Although Bluesky has yet to reach the threshold to be classified as a "very large online platform" (over 45 million users), its rapid growth post the US Presidential election has caught the attention of the EU. Bluesky, which recently boasted 15 million users 10 days ago, has jumped to 22.5 million users, according to a statistic tracking site created by one of its developers.

Future Implications for Bluesky in the EU

As Bluesky continues to grow, it may soon find itself under strict regulations if it surpasses the user limit set by the DSA. The EU has requested its 27 national governments to monitor the platform's presence in the region, indicating a heightened level of scrutiny. Regnier mentioned that the commission has yet to reach out to Bluesky directly, leaving an uncertain future for the platform.

Conclusion

In summary, while Bluesky currently operates under a different regulatory standard due to its user base size, its rapid growth could soon lead to conflicts with EU regulations. Monitoring compliance with the DSA will be crucial for Bluesky as it expands, and its position will remain a key topic in discussions regarding digital platform regulations in Europe.