Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School officially took over the decentralized social media platform Farcaster from Neynar on October 15, 2026. Farcaster has now been renamed Network State Protocol, introducing a new operating model that requires users to agree to a social smart contract and community code of conduct (Network Code).
The ownership transition is more than just a rebrand; it marks an overhaul of how the platform manages user interactions.
Three Tiers of Violations and AI Scanning
The new rules classify violations into three tiers: digital felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions. Sanctions are tiered, ranging from warnings and suspensions to permanent bans.
The impact was immediately felt across the timeline. Several users reported that their accounts were abruptly shifted to read-only mode over past posts deemed in violation of the new rules. These restrictions even hit accounts belonging to former Farcaster engineers and veteran community figures.
Balaji confirmed that moderation reviews utilize a combination of human curators and artificial intelligence (AI) analysis. The system scans millions of historical posts stored since the network’s inception.
Why Emulate Singapore’s Order
Balaji defended the crackdown by stating his ambition to build a ‘Singapore on social media’ that upholds law and order. He even compared his decisive measures to the crime crackdown policies of President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador.
The move drew swift public backlash. Former India ecosystem lead at Eigen Labs, Kunal Gandhi, sharply criticized the policy. Gandhi called restricting legacy accounts over past history a ridiculous move that damages the ethos of decentralization.
For Farcaster, the acquisition by Network School marks its second change of ownership in 2026. The platform previously recorded approximately 250,000 monthly active users in December 2025.
Options for Users Rejecting the New Rules
Network School is not stopping at moderating online discourse. The organization’s long-term vision aims for Farcaster’s online community to evolve into physical meetups, startup cities, and ultimately the formation of network states.
Nevertheless, Balaji emphasized that Farcaster’s underlying protocol remains open. Users who refuse to sign the new rules retain control over their assets. Private keys, followers, and legacy content remain in users’ hands to take to other client applications outside Network School’s control.
For users unwilling to submit to Balaji’s new discipline, the choice is clear: accept the designated social contract, or take their private keys to another application.
Reported via crypto.news.
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