Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, has been banned in Brazil following a Supreme Court decision. The ban was ordered by Justice Alexandre de Moraes after Musk refused to appoint a legal representative in the country. This decision marks an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Musk and the Brazilian judiciary, which has been at odds over issues related to free speech, the presence of far-right accounts, and the spread of misinformation.
The ruling stipulates that X will remain inaccessible in Brazil until a legal representative is appointed. Additionally, the court has imposed fines on anyone using a VPN to access the platform. With around 40 million Brazilians—20% of the population—using X at least once a month, this ban has significant implications for social media usage in the country.
Brazil is not alone in banning or suspending X. Several other countries have also imposed restrictions on the platform:
China: Banned X in 2009 as part of broader internet censorship efforts.
Iran: Blocked access in 2009 to suppress political dissent.
North Korea: Officially banned the platform in 2016 to limit access to foreign media.
Turkmenistan: X has been inaccessible since at least 2018, reflecting the country’s strict control over the internet.
Uzbekistan: The platform is banned, consistent with regional censorship practices.
Myanmar: X was banned following the 2021 military coup during a broader crackdown on opposition voices.
Russia: Access to X has been restricted since 2022, particularly after the platform refused to comply with government censorship demands.
Brazil: The most recent ban, imposed in August 2024, is due to a legal dispute between Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court.
