Elon Musk’s X banned in Brazil: Which other nations have banned the social media app?

Elon Musk’s social media platform X has been banned in Brazil, a market of 40 million users. This development comes after a confrontation between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over issues of free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation.

The conflict escalated when X removed its legal representative from Brazil, citing threats of arrest by de Moraes. In response, de Moraes issued a 24-hour ultimatum for X to appoint a new representative or face suspension. This move is grounded in Brazilian law requiring foreign entities to have legal representation to operate within the country.

While Brazil’s potential ban on X is significant, it’s not unprecedented. Several other nations have previously imposed restrictions on social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter).

Nations that have banned X in the past

China: Since 2009, China has blocked Twitter as part of its extensive censorship regime, known as the Great Firewall, which restricts access to foreign social media platforms.

Iran: Twitter has been banned in Iran since 2009, coinciding with political unrest and protests. The Iranian government seeks to limit public discourse and opposition through these restrictions.

North Korea: Officially blocking Twitter in 2016, North Korea restricts access to most foreign media, primarily affecting foreigners and limiting the flow of information about the government.

Turkmenistan: This Central Asian country has banned Twitter along with other Western social media platforms since at least 2018, enforcing strict controls on internet access and information dissemination.

Uzbekistan: Similar to Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan has also blocked Twitter, reflecting a broader trend of internet censorship in the region.

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Myanmar: Following the military coup in 2021, Myanmar’s military government restricted access to Twitter as part of its crackdown on dissent and communication among opposition groups.

Russia: In 2022, Russia began restricting access to Twitter in response to the platform’s refusal to comply with government demands regarding content moderation and censorship.