Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with .
The closure began Saturday evening.
Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, has asked internet service providers to suspend users’ access to social media platform X, following a Supreme Court order.
The Supreme Court says this measure was taken because X refused to comply with court orders regarding the accounts and operation of the platform in Brazil.
Most of the accounts ordered blocked are run by supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, some of whom deny he lost his 2022 re-election bid.
X owner Elon Musk called the move an attack on free speech – but Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the platform was being used in unacceptable ways.
“Freedom of expression is not the freedom of aggression; freedom of expression is not the freedom to destroy democracy, institutions, dignity and honor; freedom of expression is not not the freedom to spread hate speech and prejudice.”
The Brazilian president supported the Supreme Court’s decision.
“Having a lot of money does not entitle him to be disrespected. This citizen is an American citizen, he is not a citizen of the world. He cannot offend presidents, members of Congress, the Senate or the Court supreme. Who does he want you think he is?”
The international community even intervenes.
Kamala Harris, current Vice President of the United States and Democratic candidate, says that social media should not be a place where you can do whatever you want.
“These social media sites need to take responsibility for understanding their power. They speak directly to millions and millions of people without any level of oversight or regulation – and this needs to stop.”
But for some young people in Brazil, the reaction to the order has been mixed.
Maira says she has seen evidence of propaganda and disinformation being spread on X.
“Honestly, I think it’s true because everyone I know who uses Twitter (X) is a little lost between what’s real and what’s fake, you know? But I don’t know either. I don’t think that’s necessarily all.” or nothing; there might be some regulation there. But I think it’s fair if Elon Musk wants to come here and thinks it’s a banana republic, he’s wrong. »
Fernando, a 20-year-old law firm intern, says there might be another way to solve these problems.
“Look, as far as bans go, I’m somewhat against it, but I’m in favor of regulating certain things. I know Telegram has had some issues as well. I think Twitter could be regulated because it’s a sort of no man’s land, and I think it’s a bit risky.”
Brazil is one of the largest markets for X, with tens of millions of users – although it is not as popular as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok.
It remains to be seen how the feud will ultimately play out.
The suspension is supposed to remain in effect until X complies with all court orders – regarding the suspension of accounts and the appointment of a legal representative, which Brazilian law requires all social media companies to have.
Following the shutdown, some users have already migrated to other sites, such as threads or bluesky.
However, Ana Julia Alves de Oliveira, an eighteen-year-old student, says so [[X]]remains an important platform.
“People my age aren’t really used to watching TV news or reading the news, and Twitter (X) was a way, at least for me, to get information from around the world. I so I kind of lost touch with what’s going on in the world and a way to entertain myself – there was also a lot of entertainment there, whether I like it or not, it’s becoming a new reality for me now. »
