@profcarroll Bridging content to Bluesky without consent violates users copyright to their content because Bluesky extracts a broad license to all content posted on their platform and transfered over their protocol. Bridge builders do not have the right to grant these wholesale licenses, so any such bridge is illegal. Just because you can technically do something does not make it legal or ethical.

#DataProtection

@mastodonmigration @profcarroll I think the mistake here is to assume "bridging" is the only way to enjoy both platforms.

Once Bluesky opens up, it'll federate with any server that supports the AT protocol - at least, that's the advertised feature. Just as Mastodon servers will federate with any server that supports ActivityPub. And while I wouldn't describe the exercise as trivial, it seems probable that people will create servers that support AT and AP. Which means users of those servers can follow and interact with people on BlueSky and other AT servers, and follow and interact with those on AP servers.

Note a combined AT/AP server is not a bridge. It's not copying content between networks. It's not replicating Mastodon.online posts on BlueSky.com. It's just ensuring users who are on such a server can see posts from AT and AP users on their timeline, and AT and AP users can both see the timeline of a user who chooses to be on the combined AT/AP server.

The nearest issue I can think of to a problem is that those who aren't supporting both protocols will only see half conversations. And there's the concerns, I guess, over whether someone boosting a post should be able to boost that on both networks or just the origin network.

But that's a whole different thing from whether we can't all benefit from Bluesky. We can, if it lives up to its promises, and opens up. Much as I mistrust its founder, if people are happier there, then as long as I can talk to my friends who choose to be there, I'm OK with that.

@poundquerydotinfo @profcarroll If Bluesky were to alter there ToS in some fundamental way, there may be a legal way to do what you say. But any bridge by that posts unauthorized content to Bluesky now violates the content owner's copyright and the current Bluesky ToS.

You should also be aware that the broad Bluesky ToS content license covers any content transfered over their protocol, not just their social media application.