X currently unavailable in Brazil following ban by the country’s supreme court

Elon Musk’s X social network has been blocked in Brazil following a ruling by the country’s supreme court. The ban, which took effect on Friday, comes after Musk’s refusal to comply with Brazilian regulations that require social media companies to employ a representative to handle government takedown notices, including those related to political misinformation and incitements to violence.

The court also imposed daily fines for individuals or businesses attempting to bypass the ban through virtual private networks (VPNs) or other methods.

Internet providers and mobile phone companies began enforcing the ban after the court order, leaving over 22 million Brazilian users disconnected from the platform.

Clash Between Musk and Brazil’s Judiciary

The blocking of X is the culmination of a months-long standoff between Musk and Brazil’s judiciary, led by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The judge has been at the forefront of efforts to force X to remove anti-democratic and far-right content, particularly in the wake of the January 2023 uprising in Brasília, where supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the capital in a bid to overturn the election results.

Justice Moraes accused X of allowing the "massive propagation" of misinformation, hate speech, and anti-democratic attacks, describing the platform as a “veritable land without law.”

Musk, who has publicly aligned himself with right-wing figures including Bolsonaro and former U.S. President Donald Trump, responded to the court’s actions with a series of inflammatory remarks. He accused Moraes of suppressing free speech and censoring conservative views, comparing the judge to the fictional villain Voldemort. Musk’s attacks, which included vulgar memes, further escalated tensions between the tech billionaire and Brazil’s judiciary.

Brazilians Flock to Bluesky

In response to the ban, many Brazilians have started migrating to Bluesky, a rival social network that reported a surge of 500,000 new users in the past two days. Bluesky welcomed its new users with a message in Portuguese, saying, “Welcome to Bluesky!”

The shift underscores the broader implications of the ban, as Brazilians seek alternative platforms to stay connected. Prominent figures, including left-wing congresswoman Erika Hilton, have already made the move to Bluesky, celebrating the court’s decision as a victory for the rule of law and national sovereignty.

“If billionaires want to have companies that make billions in these parts, they need to learn to respect the laws. Long live the rule of law and national sovereignty,” Hilton wrote on X shortly before the ban took effect. She later announced her relocation to Bluesky, inviting others to join her.