Brazil, X’s (former Twitter) 3rd largest market, was disconnected from the platform earlier this year for a little bit more than a month due to disputes between Judge Alexandre de Moraes and Elon Musk. One cannot possibly deny the impact social media has on politics and broadcasting news, nor remain oblivious to the role it will continue to play in future political disputes. Whether we are debating freedom of speech or ethical algorithm use, some controversy is always present.
The timing of this decision was critical. Brazil was approaching its municipal elections in October 2024, and social media platforms played a pivotal role in shaping public opinion and disseminating information during past campaigns. X had a reputation for being a conduit for misinformation, coordinated disinformation campaigns, and hate speech during the 2018 and 2022 elections. That said, specialists noted that the suspension of the platform did not effectively curb misinformation during the most recent election period. In fact, the blockade may have been more detrimental to the democratic system rather than not. In Brazil, unlike in other democracies, voting in national and regional elections is mandatory for all citizens aged 18 to 70. Absence without justification results in fines, which are mostly symbolic, but non-payment can lead to administrative difficulties, such as issues with renewing documents or accessing pensions. With so many relying on social media during this time, limiting access to information for vulnerable populations likely significantly restricted people’s ability to learn about candidates and express their opinions effectively.
If, overall, the suspension might have had more negative consequences for the democratic election process than positive ones, why did it happen? Well, it may have been an ego clash between a billionaire and a Supreme Court judge.
In October 2022, Elon Musk, the well-known owner of Tesla, made headlines with a bold move: he acquired Twitter. Following this massive purchase, the world watched through other social media channels and platforms (like TikTok) as the company underwent massive layoffs worldwide. Fast forward to July 2023, he demonstrated his quirky obsession with unconventional naming—having already given his children names that look like they were generated by AI— and re-branded Twitter to simply “X.”
Following the 2022 election, which resulted in Lula’s victory over Bolsonaro, supporters of the latter attempted a coup on January 8, 2023, to keep the former president in power. It has now been proven that Bolsonaro was involved in organizing this attempt. There is a tendency in South American countries, especially among right-wing voters, to idolize the United States. However, this sense of admiration, or even cultural inferiority toward the U.S., has, in some cases, gone a little too far. A quick search into this event reveals some similarities between the attempted coup and the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. One important point is that in both instances, the spread of election fraud claims and conspiracy theories that began on social media platforms eventually led to violent attacks intended to undermine the democratic processes.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes is Brazil’s no-nonsense enforcer of justice. Known for his relentless pursuit of those involved in the January 2023 coup attempt, in 2024, Moraes ordered X and other social media platforms to block a list of users involved in the coup from the platform under the allegations that they were spreading fake news. While other platforms complied with the judge’s demand, Musk instead opted to lay off the remaining 40 employees still working in Brazil and shut down the office. After this move, Moraes issued a 24-hour ultimatum, once again showing his proactive approach. When no response came, Moraes didn’t hesitate to swing the judicial hammer, ordering the immediate suspension of X’s operations in the country and cracking down on anyone attempting to bypass the ban with VPNs.
This situation raises a critical question: Does the suspension of X amount to a violation of freedom of expression, or is it a necessary legal measure to uphold Brazil’s sovereignty? Under Brazilian law, foreign companies are required to designate a legal representative within the country to handle judicial matters. The suspension can be seen as a direct response to concerns that X failed to comply, symbolizing a broader effort to defend Brazil’s sovereignty against perceived external interference. Further complicating the issue, groups aligned with former president Jair Bolsonaro—often associated with nationalist rhetoric—used Brazil’s Independence Day on September 7, 2024, to protest. They criticized the judiciary while paradoxically supporting freedom of speech despite their alignment with anti-democratic ideals, such as the attempted coup. On the same day, Elon Musk drew attention to the controversy by reposting content related to the suspension, bringing the debate into sharper global focus and fueling discussions on the intersection of corporate accountability, national sovereignty, and the fundamental right to free expression.
Despite his reputation for challenging conventions, Elon Musk eventually complied with Brazilian regulations to reinstate X’s operations in the country— allowing Brazilian users to reconnect to the platform. He appointed a legal representative in Brazil, ensuring X adhered to the requirements for foreign entities operating in the nation. Interestingly, during the 36-day suspension, an unexpected phenomenon unfolded: hundreds of celebrity fan accounts “came out” as Brazilian, announcing they would be unable to post updates until the ban was lifted. This likely wasn’t the outcome Judge Moraes anticipated, but as a result of his decision, the stan communities experienced a temporary blackout, leaving them… devastated (to quote our pop diva, Lady Gaga).
Although X returned, the prolonged suspension has led many users to switch to alternative platforms like Threads, Instagram, and TikTok. These platforms quickly became the new hubs for conversations and news updates, especially among younger users and fan communities. As a consequence, even after X’s operations resumed, the platform struggled to regain its former volume of activity in Brazil.
In summary, no one ended up happy. X couldn’t continue with its stubborn stance and lost users, while de Moraes—even in an attempt to defend the democratic process—restricted access to a platform where many voters got valuable information on their candidates.
By Clara Barbosa & Clara Marins
December 13, 2024
