Musk has publicly criticised the Brazilian Supreme Court actions, framing them as an overreach of state power and a threat to free speech. Meanwhile, supporters of Justice de Moraes argue that the measures are necessary to maintain the integrity of online discourse
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Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has managed to circumvent a ban imposed by Brazil’s Supreme Court through an automatic software update, according to a statement from the Brazilian Association of Internet and Telecommunications Providers (ABRINT).
The platform, which had been blocked last month following a judicial order, abruptly became accessible again across Brazil, sparking widespread speculation among users about whether the ban had been lifted.
Technical manoeuver
ABRINT later clarified that the unexpected reactivation of X in Brazil was due to a structural change in the platform’s network architecture. X reportedly altered its system to route traffic through IP addresses associated with Cloudflare, a prominent cybersecurity company based in San Francisco. Cloudflare supports millions of websites by routing their traffic, making it challenging for internet service providers to block specific platforms without also affecting other services.
Before the update, X operated on specific IP addresses, which made it easier for Brazilian internet companies to block access to the platform. However, the new system implemented by X now shares IP addresses with other legitimate services, including banks and large internet platforms. This change has made it nearly impossible to block X without also disrupting access to these critical services, according to ABRINT.
What next?
The unexpected return of X has prompted Brazil’s Supreme Court to request an explanation from the country’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel. Local media reports indicate that Anatel is continuing to monitor the situation and is reporting its findings directly to the Supreme Court. The regulator confirmed that there has been no change in the court’s decision to ban X, despite the platform’s continued operation in the country.
The original ban was ordered by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as part of a broader effort to combat fake news and hate speech in Brazil. The ruling came after Musk refused to appoint a legal representative in the country and to restrict certain accounts.
Musk has publicly criticised the court’s actions, framing them as an overreach of state power and a threat to free speech. Meanwhile, supporters of Justice de Moraes argue that the measures are necessary to maintain the integrity of online discourse and to curb the spread of harmful content.
Tension Between X and Brazilian Authorities
The situation in Brazil highlights the ongoing tension between Musk’s platform and the country’s legal system. While the Supreme Court remains firm in its stance against X, the platform’s technical workaround has complicated enforcement efforts.
As the Brazilian authorities continue to monitor the situation, it remains to be seen how the legal battle between X and the Brazilian judiciary will unfold. For now, X continues to operate in the country, albeit under a cloud of legal uncertainty.