Bluesky Personal Data Servers

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Posted on by sabotabby

A Shield Against Data Collection and Disinformation?

In a world where data privacy and the integrity of information are constantly under threat, Personal Data Servers (PDS) offer a robust solution. Here’s how PDS can protect you from data collection practices, disinformation, and corporate astroturfing, along with practical examples:

1. Data Ownership and Control

With a PDS, you have full control and ownership of your data, significantly reducing the risk of it being harvested by third-party platforms.

Example: By using a PDS to store your personal information, you can reduce the chances of companies collecting and profiling your data to target you with tailored disinformation campaigns. However, it’s important to note that complete prevention isn’t guaranteed if you still interact with external services. For instance, visiting websites or using apps that track user behavior can still lead to some data collection.

2. Privacy and Security

Enhanced privacy measures on your PDS protect your data from being accessed without your permission, ensuring that your information remains confidential.

Example: A community group working on a sensitive social justice campaign can use PDS to securely share information among members, protecting their data from being exploited by adversarial entities looking to discredit their efforts. While PDS enhances privacy, vigilance is still required when using other online services to avoid inadvertent data exposure.

3. Decentralization

PDS promotes a decentralized internet, making it more difficult for disinformation campaigns to spread widely and unchecked.

Example: In a decentralized network of independent journalists, each using their own PDS, it becomes more challenging for disinformation to gain traction, as the control is distributed across multiple sources. This helps ensure accurate information prevails, though it’s not a foolproof solution, as misinformation can still spread through other channels.

4. Transparency

Owning and managing your data on a PDS ensures that the sources and origins of information are clear and verifiable, helping to combat fake news and misleading information.

Example: A scientist sharing research findings can use a PDS to make their data publicly accessible and verifiable, preventing corporate interests from altering or misrepresenting the information. Transparency builds trust, although verification by peers and other trusted sources remains crucial to validate the data.

5. Empowerment

PDS empowers individuals and communities to share authentic information, reducing the influence of corporate-controlled narratives and enhancing the credibility of grassroots movements.

Example: A grassroots organization advocating for local policy changes can use PDS to mobilize supporters and share genuine stories, bypassing corporate media channels that might downplay their cause. This empowers them to amplify their voice and impact, but media literacy and critical thinking remain crucial for evaluating the information.



By embracing Personal Data Servers, you can protect your data, maintain privacy, and ensure the integrity of the information you consume and share. It’s a vital step in combating disinformation and corporate astroturfing, ultimately fostering a more secure and trustworthy digital landscape.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create your own personal data server (PDS) on Bluesky:

Step 1: Preparation
  1. Launch a Server: Start by launching a server on a cloud provider like Digital Ocean or Vultr. Ensure you have SSH access with root privileges.
  2. Public IPv4 Address: Make sure your server has a public IPv4 address.
  3. Public DNS Name: Set up a public DNS name for your server.
Step 2: Open Firewall
  1. Open Ports: Open your cloud firewall for HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443).
  2. Security: Restrict inbound SSH access to your own computer’s IP address for security.
Step 3: Configure DNS
  1. DNS Records: Set up DNS records in your DNS provider’s control panel to point to your server.
  2. Verify DNS: Use a DNS checker service to verify that your domain names resolve to your server’s public IP.
Step 4: Install Bluesky PDS
  1. Download Installer: SSH into your server and download the installer script using wget or curl.
  2. Run Installer: Run the installer script with sudo bash installer.sh.
  3. Verify Server: Visit https://yourdomain.com/xrpc/_health in your browser to check the server’s health.
Step 5: Create an Account
  1. Create Account: Use pdsadmin account create to create an account on your server.
  2. Generate Invite Code: Generate an invite code using pdsadmin create-invite-code.
  3. Use Invite Code: Use this code when creating an account in the Bluesky app.
Step 6: Join the Federation
  1. Join AT Protocol PDS Admins Discord: Register your PDS’s hostname to access the network.
  2. Stay Updated: Keep your PDS updated with the latest version to avoid issues.