Why Your Favorite Twitter Accounts Are Suddenly Going Dark

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Why Your Favorite Twitter Accounts Are Suddenly Going Dark

Key Takeaways

  • Brazil banned Twitter in late August 2024.
  • The decision stems from Twitter’s refusal to name new legal representation in the country after closing down its Brazil offices.
  • Many popular Twitter meme accounts and fan pages have gone dark as a result of the ban.

As a long-time gamer and social media enthusiast, I find myself utterly dismayed by the recent turn of events surrounding Twitter in Brazil. Having grown up with the internet as a cornerstone of my social life and gaming community, I’ve come to rely on platforms like Twitter for staying connected with friends, sharing memes, and keeping up-to-date with global news.

2024 saw Brazil prohibit the platform previously recognized as Twitter, following a court ruling in late August. Consequently, numerous Twitter accounts have since gone offline, with an increasing number expected to do so in the time to come.

The current situation arises from a court case in April 2024 when Brazil Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes initiated an investigation against Elon Musk, the owner and former CEO of Twitter, over allegations of spreading false information and obstructing justice. This followed Twitter’s refusal to obey the court’s orders to block certain accounts that were accused of disseminating misinformation in Brazil, the largest South American nation. After this, Elon Musk decided to close down Twitter’s offices in Brazil mid-August 2024, asserting that Justice de Moraes had threatened to arrest Twitter’s local legal representative for not adhering to his “censorship demands.”

Twitter Banned in Brazil After Refusing to Name Legal Representation

As a devoted follower, here’s my take:

Brazilians Face Massive Fines for Circumventing Twitter Ban

In the time to come, it’s possible that more accounts will become inactive due to the fact that Justice de Moraes has given Google and Apple a five-day ultimatum to remove Twitter from their mobile app stores. As of now, neither company has followed through with the ruling, but they are anticipated to do so soon based on past behavior. The Supreme Court judge emphasized that Brazilians attempting to bypass the Twitter ban using methods such as VPNs and proxies risk being fined R$50,000 (approximately $8,900) for each day they violate his order.

Before the imposition of the sanction, Musk criticized Justice de Moraes for attempting to silence the primary source of news in Brazil by prohibiting the widely used news app within the country. Critics of the billionaire argue that this incident has no connection to free speech. This perspective is largely based on accusations that since Musk acquired Twitter, the platform has frequently censored political content at the request of right-wing governments in countries like Turkey and India. This implies that the business magnate only advocates for free speech that aligns with his personal beliefs.

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2024-08-31 13:23