Politicians and many other X users took to the social media platform on Saturday to voice their disapproval of the site’s ban in Brazil after a court-imposed deadline for the company to identify a legal representative in Brazil expired.
“X is the most used news source in Brazil. This is what people want. Now, the tyrant de Voldemort is suppressing the people’s right to free speech,” wrote Elon Musk, owner of X, after the decision.
The move is the latest chapter in an ongoing feud between a Brazilian Supreme Court judge and Musk, which also included freezing the financial accounts of satellite internet provider Starlink in Brazil, which is 40% owned by Musk.
“The current Brazilian administration likes to wear the mantle of a free democracy while crushing people under its boots,” Musk wrote.
In the ruling, Moraes ordered the full and immediate suspension of X in the country until all court orders related to X are complied with, including the payment of fines amounting to 18.5 million reais ($3.28 million) and the appointment of a legal representative in Brazil . .
In a move to avoid using virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the blockade, Moraes said individuals or companies that tried to maintain access to the social network could be fined up to 50,000 reais per day, which is roughly equivalent to 9000 dollars.
Some people supported Musk, sharing their anger at the ban.
“Brazil is banning X for one reason: to suppress free speech and thought. It is not surprising that Lula supports this decision, because he also wants to stop free speech and thought. Biden reached out to Lula, celebrated his election and called him a personal friend. This too is not surprising,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz wrote in a post on X. “The Biden-Harris administration has shown nothing but contempt for free speech here in the United States.”
Outkick host Clay Travis also pointed out that the NFL was hosting a game in Brazil next week and called on them to take action and refuse to play the game in the attacked country.
“I doubt the NFL would do that, but it would be a strong move to support free speech by canceling next Friday’s game in Brazil due to the country’s X ban and playing Eagles-Packers at home in the USA. US reporters, teams and players will not be able to tweet from Brazil,” Travis wrote in a post on X.
Cruz shared his post and added his own comments on the situation.
“Amen. If the NFL gives a damn about the Constitution and free speech, they should cancel the game immediately,” Cruz wrote.
Musk took a swipe at the United States, hinting that this kind of censorship could happen if Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are elected.
“This year’s attacks on freedom of speech are unprecedented in the 21st century. It will happen in America too if Kamala/Walz gain power. Just listen to what they said,” Musk wrote.
De Moraes ordered X to remove specific accounts earlier this year, accusing the platform of harboring “digital militias” that he claims were spreading misinformation and hate material about former president Jair Bolsonaro.
“Due to the demands of “Justice” [de Moraes] in Brazil that would require us to break (secretly) Brazilian, Argentine, US and international law, 𝕏 has no choice but to shut down our local operations in Brazil,” Musk said in an earlier post on X. “He it is a complete disgrace to justice.”
On Friday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva supported de Moraes’ decision and hit out at Musk after he appeared to be above the law during an interview with Radio MaisPB.
“Every citizen, from anywhere in the world, who has investments in Brazil, is subject to the Brazilian Constitution and Brazilian laws,” Lula said.
Bluesky, a social media platform that launched last year as an alternative to X and other social media sites, has seen a huge influx of Brazilians in the past two days, the AP reported.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
Timothy Nerozzi of Fox News Digital and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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