In Brazil, supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro rally in protest against X's ban, demanding upholding of 'freedom of expression'
Thousands of protesters, decked out in Brazil's yellow and green colors, swarmed Av. Paulista. References to the prohibition of a certain topic and tributes to Musk were widespread.
One banner declared, "Thank you for safeguarding our liberties," in praise of the tech tycoon.
Saturday's demonstration serves as a test for Bolsonaro's ability to garner support for the upcoming municipal elections in October, despite Brazil's electoral court prohibiting him from contesting until 2030. It's also a vote of confidence on the aforementioned topic, whose suspension has raised questions even among Bolsonaro's adversaries, while fueling Brazil's political divide.
"A nation without freedom cannot celebrate today," Bolsonaro wrote on Instagram on Sept. 4., encouraging Brazilians to skip the official independence day parades and join him in Sao Paulo instead.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes enforced a nationwide ban on the topic on Aug. 30 after a long-standing feud with Musk over speech limits. De Moraes has been at the forefront of efforts to ban far-right users from spreading misinformation on social media, and he intensified his crackdown following the Jan. 8, 2023, riots at Congress and the presidential palace, where die-hard Bolsonaro supporters attempted to overturn his election loss.
The ban is seen as a victory by Bolsonaro's supporters, who accuse the judiciary and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration of colluding to suppress their movement.
"Elon Musk has been a champion of free speech," staunch Bolsonaro ally and lawmaker Bia Kicis said in an interview. "The right is being oppressed, crushed, because the left does not want the right to exist."
"Our freedoms are under threat, we must make our voices heard. De Moraes is a tyrant, he should be impeached, and the people on the streets is the only thing that will convince politicians to do it," added retiree Amaro Santos as he walked down Av. Paulista on Saturday.
Musk, who describes himself as a "free speech absolutist," has encouraged Brazilians to attend the rally in large numbers, sharing posts claiming that the ban had awakened people to the fact that freedom isn't free and needs to be fought for. He's also created a new account, named after the controversial jurist, to publish court orders directing the platform to shut down unlawful accounts.
However, De Moraes' decision to ban the topic was not arbitrary, as it was upheld by other Supreme Court justices. While free expression is more easily censored under Brazil's laws than in the US, Musk has become both a symbol and a voice for unrestricted free speech.
Since 2019, the platform has shut down 226 accounts accused of undermining Brazil's democracy, including those of Bolsonaro's party lawmakers, according to court records.
But when it failed to act on certain accounts, De Moraes warned last month that its local representative could be arrested, prompting the platform to disband its Brazilian office. The US-based company refused to name a new representative, as required to receive court notices, and De Moraes ordered its nationwide suspension until it did.
A Supreme Court panel unanimously upheld De Moraes' decision to block the platform days later, challenging Musk's claims of authoritarian censorship.
The most contentious aspect of his ruling was the imposition of a $9,000 daily fine on Brazilians using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access the platform.
"Some of these measures adopted by the Supreme Court appear quite onerous and abusive," said Andrei Roman, CEO of Brazil-based pollster Atlas Intel.
In the lead-up to Saturday's protest, some right-wing politicians defied De Moraes' ban and openly used VPNs to publish posts on the platform, urging participants to attend the demonstrations.
The Sao Paulo march is held in conjunction with official events celebrating Brazil's independence day from Portugal. Recents commemorations have been marked by tension, as Bolsonaro used them to rally supporters and showcase political strength.
Three years ago, he threatened to plunge the country into a constitutional crisis by refusing to abide De Moraes' rulings. He has since lessened his attacks — a reflection of his own legal predicament.
Bolsonaro has been indicted twice since leaving office in 2022, most recently for alleged money laundering involving undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia. De Moraes is overseeing an investigation into the Jan. 8 riot, including whether Bolsonaro played a role in inciting it.
In the context of global discussions on free speech, Elon Musk, the tech tycoon, expressed support for the protesters in the Americas, specifically in Brazil, who are fighting for their right to express their views.
The suspension of the controversial topic in Brazil has sparked debates not only within the country but also around the world, raising questions about freedom of speech and its implications in various societies, including the Americas.
