Elon Musk's social media platform X, along with his satellite internet company Starlink, just got slapped with some serious fines by Brazil—and it’s all because of a little access hiccup that let Brazilian users back onto X, despite the platform being banned since August 2024. For a hot minute on Wednesday, September, some folks in Brazil found themselves able to use X again, thanks to a server update, but that access got shut down just a few hours later.
X(Twitter) and Brazil Ban: What Happened?
X’s team says the whole thing was a total accident. Basically, there was a change in how their servers were set up in Brazil, which led to users briefly getting access. But just as fast as it came back, it disappeared, and X was blocked again. The Brazilian courts, though, weren’t buying that it was just a “glitch.” By Thursday, they hit the platform with a five million reais fine (around $920,000) for violating the ban, with Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes accusing X of playing tricks to get users back on.
And it didn’t stop there—the fine was for each day X was live in Brazil, so if this keeps happening, they could be looking at even more financial damage.
X(Twitter) and Brazil Ban: The Ban and the Breach
This whole ban situation started because Brazilian authorities have been working hard to curb disinformation and hate speech, especially after X reportedly ignored some court orders. The country officially banned X in August 2024, making internet providers block access to the site.
So, how did this glitch happen? Apparently, X switched over to a different server provider for a bit, which caused the brief unblocking. The ABRINT internet provider association ran some tests and found that by Thursday afternoon, X was back to its original provider, shutting down access again. X and Cloudflare (the company that handles their DNS) haven’t confirmed any server changes, but ABRINT’s tests suggest that’s exactly what went down.
X(Twitter) and Brazil Ban: Fines, Fines, and More Fines
Judge Alexandre de Moraes wasn’t messing around. He slammed X and Starlink with daily fines of over $920,000 for breaking the ban, sending a very clear message that Brazil is dead serious about enforcing this. But the big question now is: will Brazil actually be able to collect these fines? Since X has switched back and blocked access again, the legal battle could get even messier.
As of now, X is still blocked in Brazil, but the legal drama? Oh, it’s just heating up.
Here’s the Thing—People Are Still Getting Around the Ban
Despite Brazil’s best efforts, users are finding ways to stay connected to X—VPNs to the rescue! If you’re in Brazil and determined to get back on X (or any other blocked site), using a solid VPN is basically a no-brainer.
That’s where MrGhost VPN comes in clutch. It’s your go-to for dodging those restrictions and getting back online, including unblocking X. With MrGhost VPN, you can easily hide your real location, connect through servers outside Brazil, and scroll away like the ban never even happened. Plus, it keeps your data secure and private, which is always a win.
And while Brazil is playing hardball with X, users armed with a VPN like MrGhost VPN can still skirt around the restrictions.
Bluesky’s Rising Popularity
In the meantime, while some users are jumping through hoops to stay on X, others are looking at alternatives like Bluesky. It’s got a vibe similar to Twitter, but what makes it interesting is its decentralized nature. Bluesky focuses on privacy and community engagement, making it a pretty appealing choice for people wanting a familiar social space without the usual platform constraints.
So, whether people are sneaking past the ban with VPNs or exploring new platforms like Bluesky, one thing’s clear—Brazilian users are finding creative ways to stay connected.
