Bluesky Faces Extortion Challenges Over Domain Name Verification
Bluesky’s domain-based verification policy sparks scams and extortion attempts targeting public figures.
Bluesky, a rapidly growing social media platform, has encountered a serious extortion issue following its announcement to use domain name ownership as a method of verifying the identities of public figures. The platform’s policy has inadvertently opened the door to scammers who exploit this verification process by engaging in cybersquatting.
The Issue of Cybersquatting on Bluesky
Cybersquatting, the practice of registering domain names associated with well-known figures or entities to impersonate or sell them at inflated prices, has existed for years. However, Bluesky intensified this challenge by implementing a policy where domain name ownership directly correlates with username verification. For instance, owning a domain like johnnyappleseed.com allows the owner to adopt the same name within Bluesky’s ecosystem.
This approach led to scammers targeting public figures by purchasing domains associated with their names and demanding money to transfer ownership. A case highlighted by Bloomberg columnist Conor Sen exposed how scammers tried to extort him using this policy. They claimed control of conorsen.com and warned him of the potential impact on his verified status unless he made an offer for the domain.
Bluesky’s Response and Safeguards
Bluesky has implemented partial measures to address these concerns. The platform has ensured that original usernames with the .bsky.social suffix are now reserved for users transitioning to custom domain-based usernames. This move prevents others from claiming previously used usernames, providing some protection against impersonation and squatting.
For example, if a user initially registered as johnnyappleseed.bsky.social and later updated to johnnyappleseed.com, the original username remains protected, preventing unauthorized usage by others.
New Features and Updates
In addition to addressing these security issues, Bluesky has introduced several enhancements to its user interface:
- Dedicated Mentions Tab: A new tab exclusively for Mentions has been introduced, separating it from the Notifications tab.
- Enhanced Reply Sorting: Users can now choose between linear and threaded views for replies. Filters like hottest, oldest, newest, most-liked, and random have also been added to organize conversations more effectively.
Competition and Growth
Bluesky recently surpassed 25 million users, marking a significant milestone in its growth. However, its competitor Threads remains a strong contender in the space, potentially benefiting from fewer technical challenges and a broader user base.
As Bluesky continues to address these extortion and usability challenges, its success will likely hinge on how effectively it can safeguard its platform and retain trust among its growing community.