Bluesky implements a 'more aggressive' impersonation policy

[Eugene]

Source: Engadget

Bluesky implements a 'more aggressive' impersonation policy

Parody and fan accounts will have to clearly label their profiles.

Mariella Moon
Contributing Reporter
Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 8:00 AM EST·2 min read

Bluesky has updated its impersonation policy to be "more aggressive" after third-party analysis highlighted its verification problem. The Bluesky Safety account said that the social media service is removing accounts that are impersonating other people and those squatting on handles. Bluesky doesn't have a conventional verification system, so it's easy for unscrupulous users to pretend to be someone else either for attention or to scam other people. That may not have been a serious problem in the past, but the recent influx of new users threw the issue into stark relief.

While users can verify their identities on Bluesky by linking their account to a domain name, the process isn't as straightforward as paying for a checkmark. They'd have to add a string of text to the DNS record associated with their domain so that they could claim their URL. For instance, we could claim the Engadget.com handle on Bluesky if we go through this self-verification process. Individuals can link their accounts to personal domains or pay for Bluesky's custom domain service. In its new announcement, the platform say's it's working with organizations and high-profile individuals to set up their verified handles.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.engadget.com/apps/bluesky-implements-a-more-aggressive-impersonation-policy-130047163.html

Alternate link: https://news.yahoo.com/news/tech/bluesky-implements-a-more-aggressive-impersonation-policy-130047163.html

[barbtries]

1. Wonder what they'll do about God.

https://bsky.app/profile/godpod.bsky.social/post/3lcbypojwxk2t

I should’ve pardoned my son too.

I let Jebus go through all that, and for what?

[littlemissmartypants]

2. Wonder no more...

So glad Bluesky is cracking down on impersonators and parody accounts.

NOTE: Since no one can prove God is real, I am therefore not an impersonation or a parody.

Hi, I’m God.
https://bsky.app/profile/godpod.bsky.social/post/3lcaxxlszhc2p

❤️pants

[mucholderthandirt]

3. If this is the account I'm thinking of, I like this God. The other guy, not so much. :D

[intheflow]

4. Awesome! Every DUer on BlueSky please report the account using Michelle Obama's name.

@michelle-obama.bsky.social

Avatar is a cartoon image of an angry white man, and the sole post is a banana - probably a reference to her being an "ape in heels." I reported once and nothing was done, but I know at least one other person reported him because his other three posts are responding to someone by defending his account because he "just likes the name." Maybe if we all pile on, they'll take that asshole down.