Politicians and many X users took to social media platforms on Saturday to express their frustration over the site's ban in Brazil, after a court-imposed deadline for the company to identify legal representatives in the country expired.
“X is Brazil's number one news source. It's what its people want. Now the tyrant Voldemort is suppressing their right to free speech,” X owner Elon Musk wrote in response to the ruling.
The move is the latest chapter in an ongoing feud between Brazilian Supreme Court judges and Musk, which also includes the freezing of the Brazilian financial accounts of Starlink, a satellite internet provider 40% owned by Musk.
“Brazil's current government wears the mantle of liberal democracy while trampling on its people,” Musk wrote.
In his ruling, Judge Moraes ordered a complete and immediate suspension of X's activities in the country until all court orders regarding X are complied with, including the payment of a fine of 18.5 million reais ($3.28 million) and the appointment of a legal representative in Brazil.
Moraes said fines of up to 50,000 reais (about $9,000) per day could be imposed on individuals or companies trying to maintain access to social networks to avoid the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the shutdown.
Several people supported Musk and shared their anger over the ban.
“Brazil bans X for one reason and one reason only – to stifle freedom of speech and thought. Of course Lula supports this decision, as he also seeks to ban freedom of speech and thought. Biden courted Lula, congratulated him on his election, and called him a personal friend – so no surprise there,” Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said in a post about X. “The Biden-Harris Administration has shown nothing but contempt for free speech in the United States.”
Outkick host Clay Travis also pointed out that the NFL is playing games in Brazil next week and called on the NFL to take action and refuse to play in the conflict-ridden country.
“I doubt the NFL would do this, but canceling next Friday's game in Brazil due to X's ban in Brazil and playing the Eagles-Packers game on US soil would be a strong move in support of free speech. US reporters, teams and players would not be able to tweet from Brazil,” Travis wrote in X's post.
Cruz shared his own post and added his own comments on the situation.
“Amen. If the NFL cares about the Constitution and free speech they should cancel the game immediately,” Cruz wrote.
Musk criticised the United States, suggesting this kind of censorship could occur if Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are elected.
“The attacks on free speech this year are unprecedented in the 21st century. With Kamala/Waltz in power, the same thing will happen in America. Just listen to what they said,” Musk wrote.
Earlier this year, De Moraes ordered X to remove certain accounts, accusing the platform of harboring “digital militias” and spreading misinformation and hateful content about former President Jair Bolsonaro.
“At the request of 'justice' [de Moraes] “Due to his (secret) plot in Brazil that calls for him to violate Brazilian, Argentine, U.S. and international law, we have no choice but to close our operations in Brazil,” Musk said in an earlier post on X. “He is a total blasphemer to justice.”
On Friday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva supported de Moraes' decision and, in an interview with Radio MAIs PB, criticized Musk for acting as if he was above the law.
“Citizens from all over the world who invest in Brazil are subject to the Brazilian Constitution and Brazilian laws,” President Lula said.
Bluesky, a social media platform launched last year as an alternative to X and other social media sites, has seen a huge influx of Brazilians in recent days, according to the Associated Press.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
Fox News Digital's Timothy Nerozzi and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
