Bluesky Expands Age Verification to South Dakota & Wyoming
▼ Summary
– Bluesky is implementing age verification for users in South Dakota and Wyoming to comply with local online safety laws.
– Users in these states can verify their age using methods like ID, payment card, or face scan through Epic Games’ Kids Web Services.
– These state laws lack carveouts for specific content types, potentially affecting a wide range of platforms like Reddit, X, and Discord.
– Bluesky previously stopped operating in Mississippi due to a similar law it deemed likely unconstitutional and overly restrictive.
– In the UK, Bluesky restricts unverified and underage users from adult content and certain features like direct messaging.
Bluesky has expanded its age verification requirements to users in South Dakota and Wyoming, aligning with new state-level online safety legislation. The decentralized social platform now mandates that individuals in these regions confirm they are of legal age through approved methods, which include submitting a government ID, credit card details, or completing a facial recognition scan. This move reflects a growing trend among tech companies to incorporate regional legal standards into their operational frameworks.
The verification process will be managed through Epic Games’ Kids Web Services (KWS), the same system Bluesky employs for its UK user base. KWS offers developers a streamlined way to embed age confirmation and parental oversight tools directly into digital environments. By leveraging this established service, Bluesky aims to balance compliance with user experience, though some privacy advocates express concerns over data handling practices.
These legislative changes in South Dakota and Wyoming follow a significant Supreme Court decision that affirmed the legality of age verification mandates for adult-oriented websites in Texas. Unlike regulations in many other states, however, the laws in these two jurisdictions lack narrow exemptions for specific types of content. As a result, their reach could extend to a wide array of online services, from social networks like Reddit and X to communication platforms such as Discord.
This is not the first time Bluesky has adjusted its operations in response to local laws. Just last month, the platform halted services in Mississippi after the Supreme Court allowed a controversial age verification statute to take effect. Bluesky criticized the measure, arguing it would effectively lock out all users, minors and adults alike, unless they disclosed personal identifying information.
In the United Kingdom, Bluesky enforces access restrictions on unverified or underage accounts, limiting exposure to mature material and disabling features like private messaging. It remains unclear whether identical limitations will apply in South Dakota and Wyoming; inquiries regarding specific policy details have yet to receive a public response.
(Source: The Verge)
