Overview

• Bluesky began blocking Mississippi IP addresses after the state’s HB1126 took effect, requiring age verification for all users and parental consent for those under 18.
• The move follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to halt the law during litigation, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurring that it likely violates the First Amendment.
• Bluesky says complying would force collection and storage of sensitive personal data, tracking of minors, and exposure to penalties up to $10,000 per user.
• The company contrasts Mississippi’s mandate with the UK’s Online Safety Act, which limits age checks to specific content and features and does not require identifying which users are minors.
• The block applies only to the Bluesky app on the AT Protocol, and coverage notes that similar regimes have seen users turn to VPNs, underscoring potential workarounds and uneven platform responses.