SOCIAL MEDIA
Elon Musk’s X banned in Brazil: Which other nations have banned the social media app?
The South American nation’s Supreme Court announced the app’s suspension after failing to comply with local laws.
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.
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.