In a rare move for social platforms, Bluesky has integrated end-to-end encrypted messaging from startup Germ Network directly into its app. The update makes Germ DM the first private messenger that can be launched natively within Bluesky, marking a shift from traditional Big Tech models where new features are built only in-house.
Bluesky said the experimental integration allows users to add a Germ badge to their profiles, enabling others to message them in a secure, E2E encrypted environment. Germ is also publishing guidance so other apps built on the AT Protocol can enable similar functionality. The standalone Germ app is available in public beta on iOS in North America and Europe. While it had thousands of downloads earlier, daily active users increased by 5x after the official integration announcement, the company said.
Founded by Tessa Brown, a former Stanford communications scholar and Mark Xue, a former Apple privacy engineer who worked on FaceTime and iMessage, Germ uses Messaging Layer Security, approved by the Internet Engineering Task Force, along with the AT Protocol that powers Bluesky and other apps. Unlike platforms that require phone numbers, Germ connects through ATProto handles. Messages cannot be decrypted by any service, including Germ or Bluesky. Users can tap the Germ badge on a Bluesky profile to open an iOS App Clip, authenticate with their ATProto handle and start messaging instantly. Downloading the full Germ app is optional.
The integration builds on months of development, beginning with a private beta in August using “magic links” in user bios. “We’ve been transparent about our planning and roadmap,” Xue said, noting collaboration with Bluesky’s teams. Brown added, “They ship fast, prioritize the user experience and care about their users’ access to end-to-end encrypted messaging.” Bluesky’s protocol engineer Daniel Holms wrote, “The reality is that E2EE is hard,” explaining why the company prefers third-party solutions. Germ plans to focus on core messaging features first, with possible paid tools later for creators, journalists and politicians, including AI-powered screening for new messages.
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