Brazil Bans Elon Musk’s X: Here’s Why
Millions of Brazilians were unable to access X, formerly known as Twitter, after a Supreme Court verdict banned the social media platform.
The conflict between the Brazilian government and Elon Musk, who purchased X in October 2022 for $44 billion, began in April 2024 when Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of several X accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation in the country.
Musk, the world’s richest person and a vocal advocate for “free speech,” accused Moraes of using the platform for political purposes.
“Free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes,” Musk said after the court ordered the suspension of accounts, many of which were linked to supporters of former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro.
On Friday, August 30, after Musk failed to appoint a legal representative in Brazil and closed some of X’s offices, the country’s Supreme Court ruled to block the operation of the social media platform, which is used by at least 20 million people in the country.
Elon Musk’s Reaction
Following the verdict, as user access to the platform was being restricted, Elon Musk compared de Moraes to Voldemort, the fictional antagonist from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.
“X is the most used news source in Brazil. It is what the people want. Now, the tyrant de Voldemort is crushing the people’s right to free speech,” Musk tweeted.
X’s Feud With Countries
There are concerns that the Brazilian government is cracking down on X to suppress opposition voices. However, even before Elon Musk took ownership of the platform, some countries had lodged complaints against the social media giant.
In June 2021, the Nigerian government suspended the platform after it removed a post from then-President Muhammadu Buhari that was accused of threatening to punish regional secessionists. Telecom companies subsequently blocked access to users in Nigeria.
Although the ban was lifted after seven months, other countries, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan, continue to restrict access to the platform.
In Musk’s era, his “free speech” campaign has also faced criticism, with some arguing that the platform is aiding the spread of misinformation. In September 2023, the European Union labeled X as the biggest source of fake news and disinformation after studying six online platforms in Poland, Slovakia, and Spain.
How the X Ban in Brazil Will Be Enforced
Brazilian laws require social media companies operating in the country to have a representative based in Brazil. With Musk’s failure to appoint one after shutting down X’s offices, the court has ordered regulator Anatel to notify carriers to block X’s signals.
To prevent users from accessing the platform through VPNs, as Nigerians did during the Twitter ban, the court ruled that individuals or companies attempting to bypass the block could face fines of up to 50,000 reais ($8,909) per day.
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