Brazil imposes hefty fines on users accessing X via VPNs, Musk reacts

Brazil’s Supreme Court has intensified its clash with X (formerly Twitter) by imposing daily fines of up to $8,874 for using a VPN to access the platform within the country. This move has sparked outrage from Elon Musk, who took to X to criticize Brazil’s leadership, calling it an “oppressive regime.”

The oppressive regime in Brazil is so afraid of the people learning the truth that they will bankrupt anyone who tries https://t.co/VgYPRJMXJv

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 30, 2024

This latest action follows a series of disputes between X and Brazilian authorities. Recently, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued an ultimatum, threatening to block X in Brazil unless the platform appointed a legal representative within 24 hours. The platform was banned shortly after, and the ban will remain until X appoints a new legal representative and pays outstanding fines for allegedly violating Brazilian law.

The conflict between X and Brazil has been escalating for months. In August, X shut down its representative office in Brazil after De Moraes threatened legal action against local representatives for not complying with orders to block certain users.

Musk responded to the court’s decision on X, stating, “The oppressive regime in Brazil is so afraid of the people learning the truth that they will bankrupt anyone who tries.” This statement reflects Musk’s ongoing criticism of Brazil’s approach to controlling online content.

Earlier this year, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the blocking of several X accounts as part of its efforts to combat online misinformation targeting the government. In April, Musk defied a court order to ban specific accounts, which led Brazil’s attorney general to push for tighter regulation of social media platforms.

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This confrontation between X and Brazil highlights the growing tensions over online freedom and government control, with significant implications for the future of social media in the country.