With more than 24.3 million users on X as per a report via Data Reportal, the Elon Musk-owned company was the 8th most popular form of social media in Brazil. However, on August 30, the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil, Justice Alexandre de Moraes banned it. It came after a long clash between the Tech mogul and the Supreme Justice of Brazil for content moderation. However, more than any elimination or justice prevalence, the suspension has shattered the lives of people whose businesses thrived on the platform.

Without any exception, the ban destroyed the engagement of fan pages and business pages on X in Brazil. Warriors fans of the nation, who followed @warriors_bra on X, have been wiped out. The official X handle of the fan page posted, “Unfortunately, the ego clash between Elon Musk and the Brazilian Judiciary has cost us the work we were doing with great care here on Twitter/X.”

Detailing the impact of this decision, the announcement further added, “It’s been over eight years, we’ve gained over 100,000 followers, and suddenly, all of that has evaporated. We were banned from using a VPN under penalty of paying US$8,000 per day!!!” When converted, that amounts to about 44,784.80 Brazilian Reals!

There are thousands of victims in Brazil, like the Warriors fan page. For example, Adriano Kitani, a freelance illustrator, lost almost 80% of his work because of suspension. He had 5000 followers on X, which attracted clients. Disappointed by the decision, the 38-year-old said to the New York Times, “We had something cool there. We got caught up in a fight we have nothing to do with.” All the victims cried out for similar reasons. So, what was this fight between Elon Musk and the Brazilian judicial system that has seemingly ruined everything?

Why has Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) gone dark across Brazil? Explained

Well, the verdict that Justice Alexandre de Moraes delivered was because Elon Musk defied the rules. X failed to appoint a legal representative in the nation to execute the former orders and requests from the Brazilian court. The court had demanded Elon and his social media company to remove disinformation from the platform, which was not in compliance with Brazil’s speech laws.

Musk did not execute the changes and instead spread the word about the possession of free speech. There has been an information divide on X. A section of the group has been following Elon Musk’s conservatism and the other side is still seeking the truth. The posts from Brazilian journalists and academics who are trying to reveal the truth are not getting traction, the reasons remain unknown.

Either way, the narrative and sentiment in a negative light kept building up against de Moraes until the official ruling. Musk was not ready to honor the speech laws of the nation as he called justice Alexandre de Moraes a “criminal,” “Brazil’s Voldemort,” and a “fake ‘judge.” However, associate professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and Brazil native David Nemer cleared the air about the misconception. Expressing his stance on it, Nemer said, “Our laws pertaining to free speech are different from the First Amendment in this country, the same way Europe has a very different understanding.”

“If the person doesn’t take the post down, the court will order the platform to take the post down. If the platform does not do so, then the platform becomes criminally and civilly responsible for the post as well,” Nemer added, as to why Elon Musk’s X is facing repercussions for not eliminating misinformation.

And all of this stems from the January 8, 2023, coup attempt in Brazil. A group of individuals mobbed and attacked the federal government building in the capital, Brasilia. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had just taken the oath. After the coup, the Superior Electoral Court responded to a previous instance and barred Jair Bolsonaro from participating in the election for 8 years! Reason? The former president of Brazil attacked the electronic ballot system, hinting toward disinformation on the internet in the 2022 presidential election.

That’s why the Brazilian authorities have been so strict about the execution of speech rules. Yet Elon Musk ignored the orders and $3.5 million fine from the court. Since the spreading of misinformation by previously banned X accounts did not stop, judicial authorities had to suspend the social media platform. And now the Brazilian hoops fanbase, among others, is facing the repercussions.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.