Jack Dorsey, co-founder and former CEO of X/Twitter, has stepped down from the board of Bluesky, a decentralized social media network that he helped create, fund, and promote. Bluesky began as a research project at Twitter in 2019 and became its own platform in 2022 with the aim of establishing a common operating standard for social media platforms, allowing apps to interoperate.
Dorsey had been a member of the Bluesky board since its separation from Twitter two years ago but confirmed on Sunday that he is no longer on the board. He made a statement on X stating “Don’t depend on corporations to grant you rights, defend them yourself using freedom technology (you’re on one).” He referred to X as “freedom technology.”
Bluesky issued an official statement expressing gratitude to Dorsey for his contribution in initiating and funding the platform. The company is looking for a new board member who shares their commitment to building a social network that empowers users to control their experience. Dorsey unfollowed over 2,000 people over the weekend and expressed concerns about government surveillance.
Additionally, Dorsey currently follows only Elon Musk, Edward Snowden, and Stella Assange on X, indicating a shift in his public preferences. Previously, he had openly criticized Musk’s leadership of X. Dorsey also founded fintech conglomerate Block which is under investigation by the Department of Justice for compliance issues. During Block’s recent earnings call, Dorsey dismissed news reports regarding compliance issues stating that things had taken a turn for the worse after Musk took over Twitter.
