With X Blocked, Brazilians Find New Homes for Their Thoughts

As the clock struck midnight in Brazil, the social network X went dark. The blackout came after a Brazilian Supreme Court justice ordered X’s suspension. This decision followed a dispute between the justice and X’s owner over the regulation of online speech in Brazil. X had announced it would no longer comply with court orders to suspend accounts, prompting the justice to threaten arrests. In response, X’s team was pulled from Brazil, and the justice blocked access to the platform. Many Brazilians woke up to a frozen timeline and a blank screen on X. However, some internet providers still allowed access to the platform, leading to excitement among users.