what’s wrong

The European Digital Services Act (DSA) came into force in February. It is an internet regulatory system designed to promote greater transparency and combat illegal and toxic content on various online platforms, social networks, marketplaces, and elsewhere. While certain rules apply to all online service providers, many only apply to those designated as a “very large online platform,” or VLOP. The EU diligently enforces these rules, putting pressure on companies like Meta, Google, Apple and others. According to the news of 24 Kanal based on the Financial Times, it seems that it is now Bluesky’s turn.

Bluesky was found to violate European Union rules stipulating the following: All online platforms must regularly publish regional data on the number of users. Therefore, Article 24 of the DSA requires all online platforms serving the EU market to report twice a year on the number of regional users in the “public part of their online interface”. The social network formerly known as Twitter does exactly the same thing as Meta, but Bluesky doesn’t seem to pay attention to this requirement.

Recently social network Bluesky independently reported: has already attracted 20 million users worldwide. But the rules stipulate that any platform must have at least 45 million users from the EU to be considered large. This means that Bluesky does not yet have to comply with the laws applicable to VLOP. But it still needs to state the number of users in the European Union so regulators can know when the social network will cross that line and when all other rules will start applying. After all, the company cannot announce the following indicators and continue its activities illegally, calling itself a small service.

Article 24 of the Digital Services Act requires all online platforms in the EU, including Bluesky, to report user numbers on their websites twice a year (in February and August). This helps the Commission monitor developments in the market and potentially identify or not identify platforms. [VLOP]If they reach the threshold of 45 million monthly active users in the EU,
– said European Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier.

The European Commission asked member states where general rules would normally apply if they could “find any traces of Bluesky’s activities” in their country, such as an office that could be contacted to obtain relevant information. Looking ahead, they won’t find anything because the company is headquartered in the United States. Its founders are American Jack Dorsey, who previously created Twitter, and Jeremy Miller, who wrote the site’s main protocol.

A Bluesky representative said the company was already “actively working with lawyers” to ensure Bluesky complies with EU regulations.