Up-and-coming social network Bluesky Social Inc. has been found to be breaching European Union regulations by not disclosing key details about the decentralized platform.

The news came today from a European Commission spokesperson during a daily briefing, as reporters were told that Bluesky was missing a number of mandatory legal notices on its website.

“All platforms in the EU, even the smallest ones, have to have a dedicated page on their website where it says how many user numbers they have in the EU and where they are legally established,” the spokesperson said. “This is not the case for Bluesky as of today.”

According to the Belga News Agency, Bluesky’s privacy page does not provide any company information and, though the page does include an email address, this is not sufficient for the Commission.

The spokesperson also added that since Bluesky is not currently classified as a “Very Large Platform” under the EU’s Digital Services Act, the commission has not yet reached out to the company. The EC has, instead, contacted EU governments to check “if they can find any trace of Bluesky.”

As of the time of writing, Bluesky does not appear to have responded to the EC’s allegations.

Founded in 2019 by former Twitter Inc. Chief Executive Jack Dorsey, Bluesky offers a decentralized social network built on the AT Protocol that gives users more control over their online experiences. The platform is designed to allow users to choose their own algorithms and moderation systems — differing from other social networks and breaking away from traditional centralized control.

The Twitter/X alternative has become increasingly popular following the U.S. election, with Bluesky experiencing a substantial surge in user growth. In the week after the election, the platform added over one million new users, bringing its total to more than 15 million.

This rapid expansion of Bluesky is attributed to users seeking alternatives to X, particularly because of dissatisfaction with Elon Musk’s management and his public support for President-elect Donald Trump. The appeal of the service lies in its decentralized structure and customizable user experience, offering a more moderated, safe space environment that contrasts with the free-for-all on X.

Bluesky was previously in the news in October when it raised $15 million in new funding to expand its user base, enhance its developer ecosystem and continue building out features that prioritize user empowerment and safety. Investors in Bluesky include Blockchain Capital, Alumni Ventures, True Ventures LP and SevenX Ventures Ltd.

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