Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, has announced his departure from the board of social networking service Bluesky, which he helped fund and popularize a year ago. This decision comes in the wake of his regret over selling Twitter to Elon Musk. Dorsey took to Musk’s platform, now rebranded as X, to announce his new philanthropic grants to open internet protocols, which he referred to as “freedom technology.” He also mentioned that corporations can build upon open protocols as well.
Bluesky was created by Dorsey as a network and protocol to pursue his ideal for Twitter as a service without central control. The platform was opened to all interested users in February and initially gained attention as a way to escape the changes at Twitter following Musk’s acquisition. However, it has been overshadowed by the launch of Meta Platforms Inc.’s Threads as a more viable alternative. In response to a question on X about his current status on the Bluesky board, Dorsey simply replied with a “no.”
Dorsey’s decision to leave Bluesky and focus on philanthropic grants towards open internet protocols aligns with his belief in “freedom technology” and the idea of defending rights without depending on corporations. By reducing the number of people he follows on X to just three – Musk, Edward Snowden, and Stella Assange – Dorsey may be signaling a shift in his relationship with Musk. Previously, Dorsey had expressed disappointment in the direction Twitter took after Musk’s takeover and transformation.
The concept of open internet protocols and freedom technology is central to Dorsey’s latest endeavors. By supporting these initiatives, Dorsey aims to empower individuals to defend their rights without relying on corporations. This shift in focus away from Bluesky and towards philanthropic efforts suggests a new direction for Dorsey and his commitment to promoting open access to the internet.
Overall, Jack Dorsey’s departure from the Bluesky board and his focus on philanthropic grants towards open internet protocols represents a significant shift in his priorities. By emphasizing the importance of freedom technology and defending rights independently of corporations, Dorsey is making a statement about his values and beliefs. This move may also indicate a reevaluation of his relationship with Elon Musk and a renewed commitment to promoting open access to technology.
