Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School has acquired Farcaster from Neynar, prompting complaints over account restrictions linked to posts made before the takeover. Network School announced the October 15 deal alongside plans to rename the decentralized social platform the Network State Protocol and introduce new conduct rules.
Several users reported losing the ability to post through Farcaster's main app. The restrictions followed a review of older messages under rules the new operator introduced on Thursday.
Farcaster Users Challenge Restrictions on Older Posts
Users shared notices on X showing that their accounts had moved to read-only access. Some said the penalties concerned posts published months before Network School took control. The full reasons for individual restrictions remain unverified.
Kunal Gandhi, a former India ecosystem lead at Eigen Labs, criticized the treatment of longtime members. “I know most of these folks. They shaped Farcaster with their quirks and wit,” he wrote. Gandhi questioned applying new standards to earlier conversations.
Network School has not disclosed how many accounts it restricted. The complaints concern the main Farcaster application rather than the removal of users' identities or records from the underlying network.
Balaji Defends AI Moderation and Promises Appeals
Srinivasan described his goal as the ‘Singapore of social media,' a community governed by written rules. He argued that the app should discourage personal attacks and allow people to discuss technology without repeated hostile exchanges.
In his announcement, he said human reviewers and artificial intelligence had examined millions of posts. The checks targeted what he described as a “small fraction of repeat offenders” whom other accounts had frequently muted or blocked.
Srinivasan acknowledged that the review could produce mistakes and promised an appeals process. He compared the approach with El Salvador President Nayib Bukele's campaign against crime, although he provided no verified measure of how the restrictions would change behavior on Farcaster.
Farcaster's New Network Code Covers Past Posts
The new Network Code separates rule breaches into digital felonies, misdemeanors and infractions. It covers threats, harassment, scams and repeated personal attacks. Penalties include warnings, suspensions and bans, while the rules apply to both past and future posts.
To keep posting in the official app, users must accept a “social smart contract” giving its operators authority to enforce these standards. Those who reject the terms can still read posts but cannot publish through that client.
However, Network School maintains that Farcaster's underlying protocol will remain open. Users retain their keys, funds, followers and posting history, allowing them to use another client. This follows the original design of Farcaster's decentralized social network, which supports portable online identities.
The team plans an open-weight AI moderation system and tools to flag potential violations before publication. Some decisions will still require human review.
Farcaster Changes Ownership for the Second Time in 2026
Neynar confirmed its acquisition of Farcaster from Merkle Manufactory in January 2026. By August, the company had begun searching for another Farcaster operator. Financial terms of the latest transaction remain undisclosed.
Neynar co-founders Rish and Manan are leaving, while other employees are expected to join Network School. The transfer includes the main application, protocol repositories and related products.
Network School has not clarified the future of Clanker, a token launch platform previously operated by Neynar. The project had established a Clanker ecosystem fund supporting creators and developers earlier this year.
Srinivasan wants members who accept the new rules to participate in online meetings and physical events. He has proposed gatherings connected to Network School's planned operations in Astana, Kazakhstan.
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