Brazil Lifts Ban on X After Three Weeks as Platform Uses Cloudflare to Circumvent Blockade

Sep 18, 2024, 06:42 PM

Brazil has lifted its ban on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, allowing users to access the platform without using VPNs. The ban, which had been enforced for three weeks by Brazil's Supreme Court, was circumvented by X through the adoption of Cloudflare's services, which dynamically change the platform's IP addresses. This technical maneuver has made it difficult for Brazilian regulators to block the platform again. Prominent right-wing politicians in Brazil have continued to use the platform, citing free speech concerns. Users who previously logged on using VPNs risked fines of up to 50,000 reais a day (~$9,000). The Brazilian Association of Internet and Telecommunications Providers (ABRINT) confirmed that the return of X was due to the update to Cloudflare software. Despite the platform's return, calls for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes continue, with critics labeling him a threat to Brazilian democracy.