12  Bluesky

Bluesky’s transparency is assessed through the AT Protocol API for user-generated content as a single global resource. The platform does not operate an advertising-based business model and was therefore not evaluated under the advertising framework. Its open architecture supports strong transparency in UGC data access, with key strengths including comprehensive endpoint coverage for extracting posts and author feeds, minimal authentication barriers, and consistent, high-performance data retrieval. The API provides documented response schemas and clear rate limit specifications. However, important limitations remain: documentation is available only in English and is often sparse, with some endpoints lacking detailed explanations, and there are no specific terms governing API use. Functional gaps include the absence of a graphical interface for data access and the lack of location-based filtering capabilities. In addition, while the platform enables user self-labeling, it does not provide dedicated labels for AI-generated content, hindering its identification. These constraints may limit certain research applications and oversight efforts, particularly for non-technical stakeholders.

12.1 Transparency Assessment

User-Generated Content
BR
86
Meaningful
EU
86
Meaningful
UK
86
Meaningful
Advertising
N/A
Not applicable

12.2 User-Generated Content

Coverage: BR, EU, UK

12.2.1 Special Criteria

12.2.1.1 UGC_SC1: Does the platform provide an API that enables the structured extraction of public user-generated content data for independent analysis?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

Bluesky provides an API for collecting user-generated content through the get-posts and get-author-feed endpoints.
EU ✅ Yes

Bluesky provides an API for collecting user-generated content through the get-posts and get-author-feed endpoints.
UK ✅ Yes

Bluesky provides an API for collecting user-generated content through the get-posts and get-author-feed endpoints.

12.2.1.2 UGC_SC2: Can the full scope of public content data be extracted through the platform’s API?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

All publicly available user-generated content can be accessed through Bluesky’s API.
EU ✅ Yes

All publicly available user-generated content can be accessed through Bluesky’s API.
UK ✅ Yes

All publicly available user-generated content can be accessed through Bluesky’s API.

12.2.1.3 UGC_SC3: Is access to the platform’s API free of charge?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

The Bluesky API can be accessed using standard account credentials, with no additional approval required.
EU ✅ Yes

The Bluesky API can be accessed using standard account credentials, with no additional approval required.
UK ✅ Yes

The Bluesky API can be accessed using standard account credentials, with no additional approval required.

12.2.1.4 UGC_SC4: Does the platform offer a graphical interface for extracting data?

Region Answer Note
BR ❌ No

The platform does not provide a graphical interface for accessing or extracting public user-generated content data.
EU ❌ No

The platform does not provide a graphical interface for accessing or extracting public user-generated content data.
UK ❌ No

The platform does not provide a graphical interface for accessing or extracting public user-generated content data.

12.2.2 Accessibility

12.2.2.1 UGC_OC1: Can the requested data be extracted directly from the platform’s API response?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

Responses to requests to the platform API provide the expected data in an appropriate format, without requiring redirection.
EU ✅ Yes

Responses to requests to the platform API provide the expected data in an appropriate format, without requiring redirection.
UK ✅ Yes

Responses to requests to the platform API provide the expected data in an appropriate format, without requiring redirection.

12.2.2.2 UGC_OC2: Does the platform’s API support renewable authentication mechanisms without risk of data loss?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

API access is authenticated using standard login credentials, not requiring OAuth tokens and allowing continuous access.
EU ✅ Yes

API access is authenticated using standard login credentials, not requiring OAuth tokens and allowing continuous access.
UK ✅ Yes

API access is authenticated using standard login credentials, not requiring OAuth tokens and allowing continuous access.

12.2.2.3 UGC_OC3: Does the platform’s API offer an endpoint for extracting data from an individual publication?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data from an individual publication.
EU ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data from an individual publication.
UK ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data from an individual publication.

12.2.2.4 UGC_OC4: Does the platform’s API offer an endpoint for extracting data from an individual author?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data from an individual author.
EU ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data from an individual author.
UK ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data from an individual author.

12.2.2.5 UGC_OC5: Does the platform’s API provide an endpoint for extracting data based on search terms?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data based on search terms.
EU ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data based on search terms.
UK ✅ Yes

The platform offers an endpoint for extracting data based on search terms.

12.2.2.6 UGC_OC6: Does the API use locale-neutral data representations?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API returns dates in ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD).
EU ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API returns dates in ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD).
UK ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API returns dates in ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD).

12.2.3 Compliance

12.2.3.1 UGC_OC7: Does the platform implement a proper deprecation strategy to avoid breaking client applications while rolling out major changes in the API?

Region Answer Note
BR ❌ No

Bluesky does not outline a formal deprecation strategy in its API documentation. Although some deprecation notices have been shared via GitHub Discussions, the platform appears to communicate breaking changes primarily through mailing lists and in-app account messages, which may be insufficient to ensure broad awareness among developers.
EU ❌ No

Bluesky does not outline a formal deprecation strategy in its API documentation. Although some deprecation notices have been shared via GitHub Discussions, the platform appears to communicate breaking changes primarily through mailing lists and in-app account messages, which may be insufficient to ensure broad awareness among developers.
UK ❌ No

Bluesky does not outline a formal deprecation strategy in its API documentation. Although some deprecation notices have been shared via GitHub Discussions, the platform appears to communicate breaking changes primarily through mailing lists and in-app account messages, which may be insufficient to ensure broad awareness among developers.

12.2.3.2 UGC_OC8: Is the platform’s API documentation published in open access?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation can be accessed without authentication.
EU ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation can be accessed without authentication.
UK ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation can be accessed without authentication.

12.2.3.3 UGC_OC9: Is the platform’s API documentation clearly written and exemplified?

Region Answer Note
BR ❌ No

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation provides limited explanation of its methods. It does not include practical examples, such as sample code or example queries, and the available descriptions were considered insufficient.
EU ❌ No

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation provides limited explanation of its methods. It does not include practical examples, such as sample code or example queries, and the available descriptions were considered insufficient.
UK ❌ No

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation provides limited explanation of its methods. It does not include practical examples, such as sample code or example queries, and the available descriptions were considered insufficient.

12.2.3.5 UGC_OC11: Does the platform’s API documentation detail the response format of each endpoint?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

A response schema is specified for each endpoint in the documentation.
EU ✅ Yes

A response schema is specified for each endpoint in the documentation.
UK ✅ Yes

A response schema is specified for each endpoint in the documentation.

12.2.3.6 UGC_OC12: Does the platform provide its API documentation in the official languages of the assessed region?

Region Answer Note
BR ❌ No

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation is currently available only in English.
EU ❌ No

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation is currently available only in English.
UK ❌ No

Bluesky’s Developer API documentation is currently available only in English.

12.2.3.7 UGC_OC13: Does the platform’s API documentation detail the quota or rate limits applicable to each available endpoint?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

Information regarding API quotas and rate limits is provided in the platform’s Getting Started guide.
EU ✅ Yes

Information regarding API quotas and rate limits is provided in the platform’s Getting Started guide.
UK ✅ Yes

Information regarding API quotas and rate limits is provided in the platform’s Getting Started guide.

12.2.3.8 UGC_OC14: Does the platform provide a way to label content that has been generated with artificial intelligence?

Region Answer Note
BR ❌ No

The Bluesky API allows post authors to self-label their content using the SelfLabel definition. However, there is no specific label for AI-generated content. In the current user interface, only pre-defined labels can be added to posts with media, and “AI-generated content” is not among the available options.
EU ❌ No

The Bluesky API allows post authors to self-label their content using the SelfLabel definition. However, there is no specific label for AI-generated content. In the current user interface, only pre-defined labels can be added to posts with media, and “AI-generated content” is not among the available options.
UK ❌ No

The Bluesky API allows post authors to self-label their content using the SelfLabel definition. However, there is no specific label for AI-generated content. In the current user interface, only pre-defined labels can be added to posts with media, and “AI-generated content” is not among the available options.

12.2.4 Completeness

12.2.4.1 UGC_OC15: Can data from a publication’s comments be extracted using the platform’s API?

Region Answer Note
BR ➖ Not applicable

Bluesky does not have dedicated comment features like other social media platforms analyzed in this study.
EU ➖ Not applicable

Bluesky does not have dedicated comment features like other social media platforms analyzed in this study.
UK ➖ Not applicable

Bluesky does not have dedicated comment features like other social media platforms analyzed in this study.

12.2.4.2 UGC_OC16: Can data from temporary content be extracted through the platform’s API?

Region Answer Note
BR ➖ Not applicable

Currently, Bluesky does not have built-in support for ephemeral content.
EU ➖ Not applicable

Currently, Bluesky does not have built-in support for ephemeral content.
UK ➖ Not applicable

Currently, Bluesky does not have built-in support for ephemeral content.

12.2.4.3 UGC_OC17: Can historical data be extracted through the platform’s API?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

It is possible to extract historical data through the Bluesky API.
EU ✅ Yes

It is possible to extract historical data through the Bluesky API.
UK ✅ Yes

It is possible to extract historical data through the Bluesky API.

12.2.4.4 UGC_OC18: Is the number of requests allowed by the API sufficient for monitoring more than 10,000 publications in 24 hours?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

We were able to obtain over 10,000 publications in less than ten minutes throughout our testing.
EU ✅ Yes

We were able to obtain over 10,000 publications in less than ten minutes throughout our testing.
UK ✅ Yes

We were able to obtain over 10,000 publications in less than ten minutes throughout our testing.

12.2.5 Consistency

12.2.5.1 UGC_OC19: Are the results returned by the API consistently reproducible?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

The same request was submitted five consecutive times, and identical results were retrieved in each instance throughout our testing.
EU ✅ Yes

The same request was submitted five consecutive times, and identical results were retrieved in each instance throughout our testing.
UK ✅ Yes

The same request was submitted five consecutive times, and identical results were retrieved in each instance throughout our testing.

12.2.5.2 UGC_OC20: Is the data returned by the platform’s API consistent with the parameters and filters used in the request?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

All retrieved results were coherent and aligned with the queries and parameters applied during testing.
EU ✅ Yes

All retrieved results were coherent and aligned with the queries and parameters applied during testing.
UK ✅ Yes

All retrieved results were coherent and aligned with the queries and parameters applied during testing.

12.2.6 Relevance

12.2.6.1 UGC_OC21: Does the data extracted by the platform’s API reflect what is displayed on its user interface?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

All key elements displayed in the user interface are also present in the API responses, ensuring that programmatically retrieved data mirrors the information available through the platform’s front-end.
EU ✅ Yes

All key elements displayed in the user interface are also present in the API responses, ensuring that programmatically retrieved data mirrors the information available through the platform’s front-end.
UK ✅ Yes

All key elements displayed in the user interface are also present in the API responses, ensuring that programmatically retrieved data mirrors the information available through the platform’s front-end.

12.2.6.2 UGC_OC22: Does the platform’s API allow for filtering data based on content or its author location?

Region Answer Note
BR ❌ No

Bluesky’s API does not support filtering data by publisher location.
EU ❌ No

Bluesky’s API does not support filtering data by publisher location.
UK ❌ No

Bluesky’s API does not support filtering data by publisher location.

12.2.6.3 UGC_OC23: Does the platform’s API allow for filtering data based on content language?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API allows filtering data by language.
EU ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API allows filtering data by language.
UK ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API allows filtering data by language.

12.2.6.4 UGC_OC24: Does the platform’s API allow for filtering data by specific time periods?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API allows filtering data by specific time periods.
EU ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API allows filtering data by specific time periods.
UK ✅ Yes

Bluesky’s API allows filtering data by specific time periods.

12.2.7 Timeliness

12.2.7.1 UGC_OC25: Can data from newly published content be extracted from the platform’s API in near real time?

Region Answer Note
BR ✅ Yes

The platform’s API provides near real-time access to newly published content.
EU ✅ Yes

The platform’s API provides near real-time access to newly published content.
UK ✅ Yes

The platform’s API provides near real-time access to newly published content.

12.3 Advertising

Coverage: Not assessed