Brazil just banned X. Could other countries follow suit?

Authorities in Brazil, the country with the fifth largest number of internet users in the world, have banned social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

The ban went into effect over the weekend. It followed a long-running battle between Elon Musk, the owner of X, and Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who previously ordered the social media platform to block far-right users.

The ban outraged Musk. Following this, he claimed that de Moraes is a “fake judge” and that “the oppressive regime in Brazil is so afraid of people finding out the truth that they will bankrupt anyone who tries.”

Personal attacks aside, the ban shows that Brazilian authorities are no longer willing to tolerate tech giants breaking the nation’s laws. Will other countries follow suit?

Why did Brazil ban X?

Brazil didn’t ban X out of the blue.

From 2020 to 2023, Brazil’s Supreme Court initiated three key criminal investigations related to social media platforms.

The first inquiry investigated fraudulent news. The second investigated organized groups that manipulate discourse and engagement on digital platforms (known as “milícias digitalis”). The third investigated individuals and groups involved in an attack on Brazil’s Congress in 2023, following former President Jair Bolsonaro’s defeat in the 2022 general election.

Then, in April of this year, de Moraes ordered Musk to shut down several far-right accounts that had been spreading misinformation and disinformation about Bolsonaro’s 2022 defeat.

It wasn’t the first time X had received such an order.

For example, in January 2023, following the congressional attack, the Brazilian Supreme Court also ordered X and other social media platforms to block some accounts. Musk appeared concerned, but his platform ended up agreeing to the order.

However, this time Musk refused and later removed X’s legal representative in Brazil. This was a significant development, as Brazilian law requires foreign companies to have legal representation in the country.

De Moraes gave Musk a deadline to appoint a new representative. The tech billionaire fell short, triggering X’s ban.

At the same time, de Moraes also froze the financial accounts of Musk’s satellite Internet service, Starlink.

The ban on X will continue until Musk complies with all related court orders, including appointing a legal representative in Brazil and paying $4.85 million in fines.

What will happen now in Brazil?

Before the ban, there were nearly 22 million X users in Brazil.

Anyone trying to use software to access the platform now faces fines of up to $13,000 a day.

Since the ban, many former X users have migrated to other social media platforms. For example, more than 500,000 people joined microblogging platform Bluesky, which said Brazil was now setting “maximums” for activity.

The ban is part of a wider crackdown on social media platforms operating in Brazil. De Moraes was a leader in this fight. For example, in an interview earlier this year, he said

The Brazilian people know that freedom of expression is not freedom of aggression. They know that freedom of speech is not the freedom to spread hatred, racism, misogyny and homophobia.

But far-right groups and Bolsonaro supporters disagree. They have been very vocal in their opposition to the ban — and the Supreme Court in general. The ban is likely to inflame existing social tensions.

Under Brazilian law, other Supreme Court judges are now reviewing the ban. They may decide to uphold the ban but lift the financial penalties for people in the country who try to access X. It’s also possible that the other judges will lift the ban itself.

Will other countries follow suit?

In social media posts since the ban, Musk has claimed that other countries, including the United States, will follow Brazil and ban his social media platform.

There is no evidence to support this claim, and the ban in Brazil does not apply anywhere in the world.

However, it adds to a growing mood internationally that giant social media companies can be restricted and are not above national laws or any other power.

For example, last week French police arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov for facilitating crimes committed on the instant messaging platform.

Other countries interested in tightening regulation of social media platforms, such as Australia, will certainly be watching closely how both cases play out.