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Germ Launches Encrypted Messaging for Bluesky, Pushing Privacy Forward on the Open Social Web
July 30, 2025
A new startup called Germ is introducing end-to-end encrypted messaging to the Bluesky social network, offering users a more private alternative to the platform’s built-in direct messages. After more than two years in development, Germ is launching its encrypted chat feature in beta this week, gradually inviting new testers ahead of a full public rollout.
Unlike many existing messaging apps that require a phone number, Germ integrates directly with the AT Protocol (ATProto), the decentralized framework behind Bluesky. This makes it possible for users to chat securely not only with friends on Bluesky, but also across other ATProto-based apps like Flashes and Skylight.
Built with Messaging Layer Security (MLS) — a new cryptographic standard backed by the Internet Engineering Task Force — Germ positions itself as a next-generation alternative to platforms like Signal, iMessage, and WhatsApp. Much of Germ’s underlying technology is open source, and could eventually inform how Bluesky implements its own encrypted messaging in the future.
Germ gives users significant control over their chat experience. You can choose whether to receive DMs only from people you follow, or restrict messaging entirely so that only you can initiate chats. Blocking a user can also extend beyond Germ to Bluesky and other ATProto-powered platforms, giving users broader privacy protection across the ecosystem.
The concept for Germ was created by co-founders Tessa Brown, a communications scholar and former Stanford lecturer, and Mark Xue, a former Apple privacy engineer who worked on FaceTime and iMessage. Brown’s research emphasized that private communication is foundational to healthy social interactions online — a philosophy that underpins Germ’s mission.
“We know that, psychologically, you can’t build a good relationship with people if you feel like you’re being stared at and manipulated all the time. And that’s really what social media is today,” Brown said. That realization drove her to prioritize end-to-end encrypted messaging as a core feature for future communication platforms.
To make encrypted messaging seamless, Germ uses an innovative onboarding method: a “magic link” embedded in a user’s Bluesky bio. When clicked by another user on iOS, this link activates an App Clip — a lightweight Apple feature that runs part of an app without a full install — allowing instant chats to begin without downloading Germ from the App Store.
Behind the scenes, that link functions as a cryptographic key, authenticating a user’s ATProto identity to ensure their messages are secure and verifiable.
From the App Clip, users can then choose to install the full Germ app to unlock more features, including a friends list and enhanced pairing with their Bluesky account. While some pairing features were finicky in early tests — possibly due to iOS beta software — the system overall demonstrates how modern mobile technology can support frictionless, secure communication.
The startup is currently free to use, but the team is exploring a premium subscription tier in the future, which could include private AI tools and deeper personalization features.
Germ is still a small operation — just four people — but it has secured pre-seed funding from notable angel investors, including a co-author of the MLS standard and several trust and safety specialists. Backers also include K5 Global and Mozilla Ventures. With additional funding, Germ hopes to expand its offering to Android.
As Bluesky grows in influence — even attracting high-profile users like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton — Germ aims to be a foundational part of the network’s evolution, offering a privacy-first alternative in a landscape dominated by data-driven platforms.
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