It seems yet another country has decided that free speech isn’t a priority. Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ordered the suspension of X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, effectively banning the site in the country. The decision comes after months of legal battles between Elon Musk and Brazil’s Supreme Court.
The ban comes with strict penalties for those who attempt to circumvent it; users who try to access X through a VPN will face fines. According to Bloomberg, the court’s decision follows Musk’s refusal to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil, which de Moraes had mandated as part of his efforts to curb what he deems “fake news” and “hate speech” that threaten Brazil’s democratic processes.
This action is presented as a measure to fight “fake news” and “hate speech” to “protect democracy,” a narrative that has been used elsewhere in similar contexts. The decision raises concerns about free speech and whether this might be a trend that could extend to other nations under similar justifications.
Elon Musk, never one to shy away from controversy, made his opinions on Justice de Moraes known just yesterday, showing his characteristic boldness. Whether this influenced the court’s decision or not, it certainly didn’t help his case.
This decision marks a troubling day for advocates of free speech.
