Bluesky has integrated end-to-end encrypted messaging technology from startup Germ Network, allowing a private messenger to launch directly within the Bluesky app (18/02).

The integration makes Germ DM the first private messenger that can be opened natively from inside Bluesky. The experimental feature enables users to add a button to their profile so others can send encrypted messages within the Bluesky environment.

Germ Releases Guidance for AT Protocol Developers

Alongside the launch, Germ introduced guidance to help other applications built on the AT Protocol implement similar encrypted messaging features.

The AT Protocol powers Bluesky, Skylight, and other social apps. Germ uses Messaging Layer Security (MLS), a standard approved by the Internet Engineering Task Force, to secure conversations.

Instead of requiring a phone number, Germ connects directly with ATProto. This means messages cannot be decrypted by other services, including Germ itself or Bluesky.

To send a message, users tap a badge displayed on a Bluesky profile. This opens an iOS App Clip where users authenticate with their ATProto handle and send a message immediately. Downloading the full Germ DM app is optional.

Germ’s standalone app is available in public beta on iOS in North America and Europe. The company said the app had recorded thousands of downloads, and daily active users increased fivefold after the official integration announcement.

Months of Collaboration Between Germ and Bluesky

Germ, based in California, was founded by Tessa Brown, a communications scholar who previously taught at Stanford, and Mark Xue, a former privacy engineer at Apple who worked on FaceTime and iMessage technologies.

The company began preparing for the Bluesky integration months earlier, starting with a private beta in August that used “magic links” placed in user bios. With the new integration, users receive a visible badge on their profiles, replacing the link-in-bio method, although the links still function.

Germ said it has been in discussions with the ATProto developer community, including Bluesky’s app and protocol teams, since the ATmosphere Conference in Seattle last year.

“We’ve been transparent about our planning and roadmap, and shipping our private beta in August generated valuable feedback from users and developers about the desire to replace our links in bios with native UI,” said Xue. “Both our team and Bluesky’s saw value in better AppView support for the Germ link.”

Bluesky’s head of product, Alex Benzer, led changes to the app as part of experiments with third-party service integration.

“Working directly with the Bluesky team has been a treat,” Brown said. “They ship fast, prioritize the user experience, and care about their users’ access to end-to-end encrypted messaging. We’re thrilled to be the first secure messenger they’ve brought natively into their app.”

Bluesky Explains Why It Is Not Building Its Own Encryption

Although the AT Protocol could eventually support end-to-end encryption, Bluesky protocol engineer Daniel Holms said this is not currently the company’s focus.

“The reality is that E2EE is hard,” he wrote in a blog post. “And this inherent complexity isn’t something that the protocol team at Bluesky can just handle – it gets pushed out to every dev trying to build a client that works with encrypted data,” Holms said.

Xue added, “We align with the ATProto ethos that people should be able to communicate using the apps and tools they choose. We believe that by solving the hard problems for ATProto users in safe, transparent, and user-friendly ways, they’ll continue to choose us.”

Shortly after Bluesky enabled the Germ badge, another AT Protocol-based client, Blacksky, also added support.

Germ Focuses on Product Development Before Monetization

Brown said the team is currently focused on adding more everyday messaging features rather than monetization.

She noted that future paid features may target power users such as creators, journalists, and politicians. Potential offerings could include support for multiple handles and private AI-powered screening for first messages from new connections.

PHOTO: TECHCRUNCH

This article was created with AI assistance.

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