Elon Musk’s X Temporarily Circumvents Court-Ordered Ban in Brazil
Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, became accessible to many users in Brazil despite a Supreme Court-ordered block.
The renewed access was reportedly due to a recent update in the platform’s communications network, which inadvertently bypassed the block by routing internet traffic through third-party services.
X utilized cloud services provided by Cloudflare, a cybersecurity company, to route some Brazilian users outside the country’s network. According to the Brazilian Association of Internet and Telecommunications Providers (Abrint), this change allowed users to access X without the need for virtual private networks (VPNs). The number of Brazilians currently accessing the platform remains unclear.
“I believe the change was probably intentional… Why would X use a third-party service that ends up being slower than its own?” said Basilio Perez, a board member at Abrint.
He added that blocking X again could be technically challenging due to Cloudflare’s extensive use by other critical services, including government agencies and financial institutions.
The platform had been blocked in Brazil following a ruling from Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes last month. The decision came after a months-long dispute with X owner Elon Musk, who had resisted court orders to moderate content and appoint a legal representative in Brazil.
Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, initially stated it would allow access to X despite the ban but later reversed its position. Anatel, Brazil’s national telecommunications agency, is now working on a revised order to block access once more, though the timeline for implementation is unclear.
Despite the apparent technical workaround, X’s global government affairs team stated that the restoration of service was unintentional and temporary.
“We expect the platform to be inaccessible again shortly,” the company said.
X added that it is working with the Brazilian government to fully resolve the issue.
The controversy surrounding the ban has also drawn international attention. The White House recently criticized Brazil’s decision to block X, describing social media as an essential tool for freedom of speech. Musk, who has publicly clashed with Brazilian authorities over the ban, expressed appreciation for the US government’s stance.
Meanwhile, some Brazilian users celebrated the platform’s brief return, with former President Jair Bolsonaro posting on X in support of Musk’s position.
The Associated Press, Axios, and the Guardian contributed to this report.
