Brazil's Supreme Court has upheld the continuation of the ban on platform X (formerly known as Twitter) after the company failed to appoint a new legal representative within the court-imposed deadlines.
Background of the Conflict
The conflict began in April when Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of multiple accounts on X for spreading false information. The situation has been tense, and the ban has split opinions across the country. Three out of five justices voted to uphold the ban, making the decision final.
Arguments of the Parties
The billionaire CEO of X, Elon Musk, argues that this is an attack on free speech, calling the judge an “unelected pseudo-judge” using his power for political reasons. Justice Moraes demanded that Apple and Google remove X from their app stores in Brazil within five days or face consequences. The company claims that its representative was threatened with arrest for not complying with what they described as censorship.
Alternative Platforms
With X out of the picture, many Brazilians are looking for new places to speak their minds. Bluesky has emerged as the biggest winner, gaining half a million new users in Brazil in just two days. Jack Dorsey is actively promoting Bluesky as the new platform and supports Elon Musk’s idea of “freedom technology,” as well as recommending the use of VPNs to circumvent such restrictions.
The ongoing ban on platform X in Brazil has raised questions about free speech and legal enforcement. In the absence of X, Brazilians are turning to alternative platforms like Bluesky, adapting to new conditions.
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