Saturday tens of thousands of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s largest city. The anti-government rallies took place on the country’s Independence Day where the massive crowds also protested the Supreme Court’s ban on Elon Musk’s X (formerly known as Twitter).
Some of the protestors claim that the recent ban on the social media platform highlights a fierce struggle over free speech and censorship.
On August 30, 2024, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the platform to be taken offline. The judge accused Musk of refusing to comply with court orders to remove accounts spreading hate speech and misinformation.
This decision has divided the nation, bringing global attention to the growing debate on social media regulation.
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A Political and Social Flashpoint
The ban comes at a pivotal time in Brazil, with municipal elections set for October 6. Conservative politicians have seized on the court’s decision to galvanize their supporters, accusing the judiciary of attempting to censor right-leaning voices ahead of the elections.
