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Bluesky — Policy Change

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Executive Summary

Bluesky's overhauled Community Guidelines took effect, reorganized around four principles: Safety First, Respect Others, Be Authentic, and Follow the Rules. The guidelines added specific harm categories aligned with the UK Online Safety Act, EU Digital Services Act, and US TAKE IT DOWN Act, including deepfakes, non-consensual intimate images, and youth-specific harms. A progressive enforcement model and clearer appeals process were introduced.

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What Happened

Bluesky updated its Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Copyright Policy between September and October 2025, with the Community Guidelines taking effect on October 15th after a public comment period ending August 28th. The Community Guidelines were reorganized around four principles and added specific harm categories to comply with the UK Online Safety Act, EU Digital Services Act, and US TAKE IT DOWN Act. The updates introduced a progressive enforcement model, a detailed appeals process, and an informal dispute resolution process where Bluesky agrees to speak with users by phone before formal proceedings.

Who Is Affected

All Bluesky users globally are affected by the policy changes, with specific regional impacts including UK users who must complete age verification through face scanning, ID upload, or payment card entry to access adult content due to Online Safety Act requirements. EEA users gained access to out-of-court and judicial remedy options as required by the Digital Services Act. The changes also affect youth users through new protections against deepfakes, non-consensual intimate images, and youth-specific harms.

Why It Matters

These policy changes represent a significant shift toward regulatory compliance with major international online safety laws while attempting to differentiate Bluesky from larger social networks through more user-friendly dispute resolution processes. Unlike platforms such as Facebook and Instagram where users report being banned without explanation or recourse, Bluesky is offering phone-based informal dispute resolution and allowing users to resolve certain claims in court rather than through arbitration. The changes also reflect an effort to shape community behavior and culture through explicit policy guidance.

What You Should Do

Review the updated Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy on Bluesky's Support Page to understand what content and behavior is now prohibited or required. If you are a UK user accessing adult content, complete the required age verification process using one of the three approved methods. If you experience content moderation actions or have disputes with Bluesky, utilize the new appeals process and informal dispute resolution options, including requesting a phone conversation with the company before pursuing formal proceedings.

AI-Assisted

Event summaries are generated by Claude AI from verified sources and reviewed by humans before publication.

Sources

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Bluesky's overhauled Community Guidelines took effect, reorganized around four... — Bluesky | PrivacyWire