Mississippi Age Assurance Law & Decentralized Social Networks

Mississippi's Age Assurance Law and the Search for Solutions

A recently enacted, broadly defined age assurance law in Mississippi is sparking debate regarding the most effective platforms for safeguarding internet freedoms. The discussion centers on options like Bluesky, Mastodon, and other emerging services.

Bluesky, the social application developer, declared last week its decision to restrict access to its platform within Mississippi’s borders. This action was taken to avoid compliance with the state’s new age verification requirements. The company articulated that its limited team size prevented it from undertaking the extensive technical modifications mandated by the law.

Details of HB 1126

HB 1126 necessitates that all platforms implement age verification procedures for every user prior to granting access to social networks, including Bluesky. The Supreme Court recently denied an emergency appeal that sought to halt the law’s implementation while legal challenges proceeded.

This ruling compelled Bluesky to choose between adherence to the law or facing substantial penalties, potentially reaching $10,000 per user. Consequently, Mississippi residents are now seeking alternative methods to circumvent the restrictions, with VPNs being a common approach.

However, some observers question the necessity of VPNs, suggesting that decentralized social networking should inherently limit state control over these platforms.

Decentralization Debate: Bluesky vs. Mastodon

Eugen Rochko, founder of Mastodon, the decentralized social network built on the ActivityPub protocol, responded to Bluesky’s announcement. He highlighted the benefits of true decentralization, stating that no single entity can dictate access restrictions for the fediverse.

This statement prompted a response from Mike Masnick, founder of Techdirt and a Bluesky board member, who cautioned that Rochko’s claim might be misleading.

Masnick pointed out that while others can host network views, the largest instances – including Rochko’s mastodon.social – could still be liable for the $10,000 per user fines. He questioned whether these instances would be willing to bear such costs.

TechCrunch contacted Mastodon for clarification regarding compliance with the law on the mastodon.social instance but did not receive a response before publication. The law’s wording suggests that Mastodon instances, along with “message boards,” “chat rooms,” and other online platforms, could be targeted.

A Heated Exchange

Rochko and Masnick engaged in a subsequent exchange, with Rochko asserting that Bluesky’s infrastructure is centrally managed by a single U.S. company, Bluesky PBC. He also noted the lack of prior communication from Bluesky regarding collaborative efforts to oppose such legislation.

“I believe you have my e-mail address,” Rochko stated.

Underlying Technological Differences

The reality is nuanced. Mastodon utilizes the ActivityPub protocol to connect thousands of decentralized servers. Bluesky, conversely, employs the AT Protocol (AT Proto), prioritizing account portability and decentralized moderation.

Instead of enabling users to operate their own servers, Bluesky allows individuals to manage components of its infrastructure, such as the PDS (personal data server), relays, moderation lists, and algorithms.

Currently, Bluesky operates the largest PDS, as the network is relatively new. However, initiatives like Blacksky are emerging to establish independent PDS instances, alongside independently run relays and appviews.

Ultimately, these technical discussions offer little immediate relief to Mississippi users who have been denied access to their preferred social platforms.

• Key Issue: The Mississippi law's broad scope and potential impact on internet freedom.
• Bluesky's Response: Blocking access to the platform within Mississippi.
• Mastodon's Position: Highlighting the benefits of true decentralization.
• Legal Challenges: Ongoing legal battles surrounding the law's constitutionality.

Navigating Restrictions in Mississippi for Bluesky Access

Users within Mississippi have discovered methods to access Bluesky even without utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN). These methods involve employing third-party clients such as Graysky, Skeets, Klearsky, TOKIMEKI, Flashes, or modified versions of the Bluesky application, including Deer.social and Zeppelin.

Rudy Fraser, the founder of Blacksky, has communicated to TechCrunch that their community has no intention of imposing blocks on users based on their geographical location, globally.

Alternative Installation Methods

A sideloaded version of Bluesky is also available through AltStore, an alternative app distribution platform. Installation requires first installing AltStore on either a Mac or Windows system, ensuring the necessary permissions and developer mode are activated.

Following this, users should press the "+" button within AltStore and input the URL "https://smanthasam.github.io/bskyms/alt.json" (without the quotation marks). Pressing the button adjacent to “BlueskyMS” and then “add” will integrate the source into AltStore, enabling browsing and installation of the sideloaded Bluesky application.

For Mississippi residents seeking a read-only experience of Bluesky, Anartia’s search engine provides a viable option.

The Precarious Nature of Workarounds

However, these workarounds are not guaranteed to be long-term solutions. The developers of these applications and clients must weigh the risks of attracting attention from Mississippi legislators by becoming popular alternatives for affected users.

The current legislation is broadly defined, encompassing any service that permits users to establish profiles, share content, and engage in social interactions – a wide-ranging scope.

If Bluesky client applications do not operate their own Personal Data Store (PDS) for user data hosting, they might be categorized solely as client providers, potentially exempting them from the law’s effects.

Nevertheless, articulating the complexities of PDS functionality to a legal judge could present a significant challenge.

Broader Trends in Age Assurance Legislation

Mississippi isn't alone in considering legislation aimed at age assurance online. Similar laws are currently under development in Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Virginia.

Virginia’s proposed law is particularly noteworthy due to its inclusion of time limitations on social media usage.

The existence of a diverse range of social networking alternatives does, at least, complicate the enforcement of such legislation, in contrast to the challenges faced when dealing with centralized networks like Facebook or Instagram. This represents a positive development for decentralization, irrespective of preferred network.

Conversely, overly expansive laws tend to favor larger, centralized platforms that possess the resources to ensure compliance, while smaller services like Bluesky may be forced to withdraw.