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Brazil Imposes Nationwide Ban on X with $9,000 Daily Fines, Sparking Global Free Speech Concerns

Sep 12, 2024, 11:32 AM

The Brazilian Supreme Court has imposed a nationwide ban on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, effective from August 30. The court's decision mandates an immediate and complete suspension of X’s operations in Brazil, with fines of up to $9,000 per day for VPN users attempting to bypass the ban. The move has sparked significant controversy, with over 100 academics, journalists, and politicians signing an open letter to the Brazilian Congress, condemning the ban as a dangerous escalation in global censorship trends. Prominent figures such as Elon Musk and Justice Alexandre de Moraes have been publicly disputing the legality and implications of the ban. Critics argue that the ban represents a severe infringement on free speech rights and positions Brazil at the forefront of the global censorship crisis.