Bluesky Unveils Major Policy Updates for Safety and Compliance
Bluesky has unveiled sweeping changes to its community guidelines, terms of service, and privacy policies, effective October 15, 2025. The updates aim to strengthen moderation and align with international regulations.
The revised guidelines introduce a progressive moderation model, ranging from content hiding to permanent bans. Bluesky must adhere to these rules and copyright laws worldwide, though specific details remain unclear.
Key changes include the Respect Others principle, which prohibits harassment, bullying, hate speech, 'deepfakes', and 'nudify' apps. The Be Authentic principle targets deceptive practices like identity misrepresentation and voter suppression. The Follow the Rules section addresses illegal content and platform misuse, specifically prohibiting AI-generated CSAM.
Bluesky's approach emphasizes user choice and decentralized moderation, as seen with its open-source Ozone moderation tool. The updated terms of service respond to online safety regulations, including the US Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, UK Online Safety Act, and EU Digital Services Act. The platform has also expanded its harm categories to align with these acts.
Bluesky's comprehensive updates, effective October 15 following a community feedback period, aim to enhance safety, respect, authenticity, and legal compliance. The platform continues to evolve its moderation approach, balancing user choice with regulatory requirements.
