One of the world’s most prominent social networks, X, has been taken offline in Brazil. This development follows Elon Musk’s refusal to comply with local laws, leading to a blockade enacted by the country’s supreme court.
Millions of Brazilian users were unable to access the platform on Saturday morning as internet providers and mobile phone companies began enforcing the ban. Attempts to access the network were met with messages indicating a loss of connectivity.
The blockage has driven a substantial number of users, estimated at 500,000, to migrate to a rival platform, Bluesky. This platform welcomed new Brazilian users with messages in Portuguese. Prominent figures, such as Felipe Neto, a leading social media influencer with over 17 million followers on X, have also made the switch. Neto reminded his followers of the necessity to comply with local legislation when in a different country, even if one disagrees with it.
X, which had over 22 million users in Brazil, has been the focal point of a politically sensitive confrontation between the supreme court and Musk, known for his right-wing alignments. Alexandre de Moraes, a supreme court judge, has been a significant figure in efforts to force X to eliminate anti-democratic, far-right content, particularly following the January 2023 uprising in Brasília by supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Musk’s resistance to these demands, which he argued stifled free speech and censored conservative perspectives, culminated in harsh criticism of Moraes. His attacks on the judge, often unrefined and offensive, paralleled his previous disparaging comments about British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the right-wing riots in the United Kingdom.
The immediate cause for the ban was Musk’s failure to appoint a new legal representative after X closed its local office in mid-August, despite being given a 24-hour deadline. Moraes, in his ruling, accused X of operating as a lawless entity, facilitating the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and anti-democratic rhetoric. Consequently, shortly after midnight, Brazilian users experienced the cessation of X services.
Musk’s response included derogatory remarks about Moraes, calling him a dictator and a fraud, although these comments were inaccessible to Brazilian users without a VPN. His stance garnered support from right-wing figures, underscoring the ideological alignment between Musk and the Brazilian far right.
Progressive voices in Brazil celebrated the court’s decision, viewing it as a reaffirmation of the rule of law and national sovereignty. Left-wing congresswoman Erika Hilton expressed that billionaires must respect local laws to profit in these regions. She, too, transitioned to Bluesky, inviting her followers to join her there.
The blocking of X in Brazil underscores the significant legal and political challenges faced by global tech companies operating in different jurisdictions. Compliance with local laws remains a critical aspect of maintaining operations and fostering trust in diverse markets.
