TL;DR
- Germ launches beta version of encrypted messaging for Bluesky users.
- Built on Messaging Layer Security (MLS) and AT Protocol (ATProto).
- Uses Apple’s App Clips to avoid full app installs for messaging.
- Co-founders include ex-Apple privacy engineer and Stanford academic.
- Funding from Mozilla Ventures, K5 Global, and MLS co-author.
Secure Messaging Comes to the Decentralized Social Web
A new encrypted messaging startup, Germ, has launched beta testing of end-to-end encrypted DMs for the Bluesky social network. After more than two years of development, Germ aims to enhance user privacy across the AT Protocol ecosystem by integrating secure communication tools independent of traditional mobile numbers.
Germ is entering a space currently dominated by iMessage, Signal, and WhatsApp, but with a unique approach leveraging newer open standards such as Messaging Layer Security (MLS), approved by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
The Data
| Feature | Details |
| Encrypted Messaging | Powered by Messaging Layer Security (MLS) |
| Integration Protocol | AT Protocol (ATProto) by Bluesky |
| Platform | Bluesky, Flashes, Skylight, and ATProto-compatible apps |
| Mobile Tech Used | App Clips by Apple |
| Funding | Mozilla Ventures, K5 Global, MLS co-author |
Germ vs. Traditional Messaging
Unlike traditional encrypted apps that require a phone number, Germ uses the AT Protocol to enable secure, pseudonymous communication between users across open social platforms like Skylight and Flashes. Users can configure privacy settings to:
- Accept messages only from followed users
- Initiate chats selectively
- Apply blocks across Germ, Bluesky, or the full ATProto network
These controls mark a privacy-first departure from mainstream messaging apps, prioritizing digital identity autonomy over phone-based verification.
Co-Founders and Mission
Germ was co-founded by Tessa Brown, a communications scholar and former Stanford lecturer, and Mark Xue, who previously worked on FaceTime and iMessage privacy at Apple. Their shared vision centers around enabling healthy online relationships through secure and private communication.
“You can’t build a good relationship with people if you feel like you’re being stared at all the time,” Brown told TechCrunch.
How Germ Works: App Clips and Cryptographic Identity
The Germ messaging experience begins with a “magic link”, which the user pastes into their Bluesky bio. When another iOS user taps the link, they’re connected instantly without needing to install the full app. This is made possible by Apple’s App Clip technology, which allows users to launch lightweight app functions for one-time interactions—originally used for features like QR-based parking payments.
This magic link acts as a cryptographic key, verifying the sender’s Bluesky handle and authenticating their identity via ATProto. Users can then opt to install the full Germ iOS app for enhanced features such as:
- A persistent friends list
- Advanced blocking controls
- Chat history and AI-powered personalization tools (planned)
Growing With Bluesky’s Influence
With Bluesky gaining traction among high-profile users like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, Germ’s positioning is strategic. Brown sees the company not only filling an urgent privacy gap in Bluesky but also influencing its long-term messaging infrastructure.
As Germ races ahead of Bluesky’s internal encryption efforts, the hope is for Germ’s protocol to be adopted more widely within the ATProto ecosystem.
Future Plans and Business Model
Currently free, the Germ service is expected to roll out premium features such as:
- End-to-end encrypted AI services
- Data ownership tools
- Chat personalization and analytics
The four-person startup is also eyeing future Android support, with a new round of funding on the horizon. Seed backing already includes privacy experts and institutional investors like Mozilla Ventures and K5 Global.
Conclusion
Germ’s beta rollout introduces a compelling new layer of secure messaging to the decentralized social web. By bridging modern cryptographic standards with Apple’s App Clip capabilities, Germ stands poised to redefine private communication—not just for Bluesky, but for the entire ATProto landscape.
As messaging platforms evolve toward privacy-first architectures, Germ offers a blueprint for others to follow.
