Remove cached image content from Bluesky

Why this happens on Bluesky

• Bluesky's open ATProto network allows third party clients and appViews to display the same content. A removal from the official Bluesky app does not always remove from third party clients.
• Search engines cache web content and image thumbnails to support search functionality. Caches typically refresh on a 7 to 30 day cycle, which means removed content can remain visible in cache for weeks.
• Most search engines support expedited cache removal through their NCII or content removal forms. The cache removal request is separate from the underlying URL deindexing request.
• Cross platform spread is the rule, not the exception. Content first appearing on Bluesky typically reaches between four and twelve additional platforms within 72 hours through reposts, mirrors, and screenshot redistribution.

The takedown process

What to do, step by step

1. 01
   Document every instance before reporting Capture full page screenshots with the URL bar visible, the posting account handle, and the upload timestamp. The original removed URL and the date of removal
2. 02
   Run a biometric scan to find every copy across platforms Content first appearing on Bluesky rarely stays there. ScanErase indexes 2.4 billion face embeddings across 200 plus platforms and identifies every current hosting location in a single scan, including AI generated derivatives.
3. 03
   Dispatch the takedown notice to Bluesky Bluesky accepts NCII reports through its in app moderation flow and through its trust and safety email. The PDS architecture means content is hosted on individual personal data servers in addition to the network appView.
4. 04
   Preserve identification metadata for subpoena Even anonymous accounts produce identifiable metadata through Bluesky. Account creation IP, device fingerprint, and posting history support law enforcement subpoena to identify the perpetrator. Doe defendant filings preserve civil claims while identification proceeds.
5. 05
   Escalate through hosting and CDN if required Bluesky uses a federated PDS model where content is stored on individual data servers. Removing from the appView removes visibility but the underlying PDS may still serve the content to other appViews.
6. 06
   File a police report and preserve the legal record 47 USC 223a TAKE IT DOWN Act for the cached NCII content provides the federal basis for the takedown. Document every notice sent, every platform response, and every removal confirmation in a single evidence file. ScanErase produces this Verified Removal Package automatically as your case progresses.

Legal context

• Bluesky crossed the covered platform threshold in 2025. The platform's open architecture means TAKE IT DOWN Act notices should be filed both with Bluesky and with any third party appView indexing the content.
• 47 USC 223a TAKE IT DOWN Act for the cached NCII content
• Search engine specific cache removal forms which provide separate expedited processing
• Capture the Bluesky post URL, the author handle, and the at:// URI. The at:// URI is the canonical identifier across the network and is required for federated takedown effectiveness.