Bluesky Blocks Mississippi Over House Bill 1126 Age Verification Law Citing Privacy Concerns and $10,000 Fines

Bluesky, a decentralized social media platform, has blocked access to its service in Mississippi in response to the state's new age verification law, House Bill 1126. The law requires all online services to verify the age and identity of every user before granting access, with fines of up to $10,000 per user for noncompliance. Bluesky cited privacy concerns and resource limitations as reasons for its decision, stating it would rather restrict access than comply with the law. This move highlights the challenges decentralized platforms face under stringent state regulations. Critics have noted that the law could have a chilling effect on free speech, as platforms may avoid operating in states with such requirements to mitigate legal risks.