Remove sextortion 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.
• Organized sextortion rings run high volume operations targeting tens of thousands of victims a year. The perpetrator is rarely the only person involved and the operation is rarely a single jurisdiction.
• Payment confirms the victim's willingness to pay and produces escalating demands in over 80 percent of documented cases. The threat does not stop after payment.
• 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. Every message from the perpetrator, with timestamps and account handles preserved
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
   Report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center File at ic3.gov immediately with full evidence of the scam communications. The FBI maintains active investigations against organized sextortion and romance scam rings and can coordinate with international law enforcement.
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 18 USC 2261A federal cyberstalking and extortion statute 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.
• 18 USC 2261A federal cyberstalking and extortion statute
• 47 USC 223a TAKE IT DOWN Act if any content has been distributed
• 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.