Brazil, the country with the fifth largest number of internet users, has recently banned the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). The ban came into effect following a dispute between Elon Musk, the owner of X, and Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. De Moraes had previously ordered the platform to block far-right users, leading to Musk’s refusal to comply.
The ban has sparked outrage from Musk, who has criticized de Moraes and the Brazilian government. He claims that de Moraes is a “fake judge” and accuses the Brazilian regime of being afraid of the truth. Despite Musk’s personal attacks, the ban highlights that Brazilian authorities are no longer willing to tolerate tech giants disregarding the nation’s laws. This raises the question of whether other countries will follow suit.
The ban on X is not a sudden decision but rather the result of ongoing investigations by the Brazilian Supreme Court. These inquiries focus on fraudulent news, organized groups manipulating discourse on digital platforms, and individuals involved in an attack on Brazil’s Congress. In April of this year, de Moraes ordered Musk to shut down several far-right accounts spreading misinformation about former president Jair Bolsonaro’s defeat in the 2022 general election.
This is not the first time X has faced such an order. In January 2023, following the Congress attack, the Brazilian Supreme Court also ordered X and other social media platforms to block certain accounts. While Musk initially expressed concern, his platform eventually complied with the order. However, this time Musk refused and removed X’s legal representative in Brazil, a significant move as foreign companies are required to have legal representation in the country.
De Moraes set a deadline for Musk to appoint a new representative, which he failed to meet, resulting in the ban on X. Additionally, de Moraes blocked the financial accounts of Musk’s internet satellite service, Starlink. The ban on X will remain in place until Musk complies with all court orders, including appointing a legal representative and paying fines.
The ban has had a significant impact, as there were nearly 22 million X users in Brazil prior to the ban. Anyone attempting to access the platform now faces fines. Many former X users have migrated to other social media platforms, with over 500,000 people joining the microblogging platform Bluesky. The ban is part of a broader effort to regulate social media platforms in Brazil, led by de Moraes.
While Musk claims that other countries, including the United States, will follow Brazil’s lead and ban X, there is currently no evidence to support this claim. The ban in Brazil does not apply elsewhere in the world. However, it does contribute to the growing sentiment internationally that social media companies can be restricted and are subject to national laws. Other countries, such as Australia, with an interest in regulating social media platforms will likely closely monitor the outcome of these cases.
