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### Rise of VPN Demand in Brazil Amid Social Media Ban
– A controversial feud led to the banning of X in Brazil.
– Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes warned users about hefty fines for using VPNs to bypass access restrictions.
– The restriction failed to deter users, resulting in a dramatic upswing in VPN adoption.
Brazilians are increasingly resorting to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as they adapt to the country’s recent prohibition of Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. Despite facing potential fines reaching nearly $9,000 per day for circumventing access restrictions, many are undeterred and have embraced technology that allows them secure entry into restricted services.
### Background on the Controversial Ban
On Friday, authorities instituted a ban on accessing X following ongoing disputes between its owner Elon Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes regarding content regulation and freedom of expression. Musk has resisted requests from de Moraes aimed at moderating content associated with far-right groups, labeling such demands as unwarranted censorship.
In his decree which instated a halt on operations by X within Brazil, de Moraes stated that compliance with governmental requests necessitated designating a legal representative within the country. Additionally, he threatened individuals and organizations using VPNs with daily penalties amounting to 50,000 reais (approximately $8,900), overshadowing what many Brazilians earn throughout an entire year according to reports from The New York Times.
### Unprecedented Surge in VPN Usage
Despite looming penalties that some might view as daunting deterrents, an astonishing increase—by up to 1,600%—in demand for VPN services has been seen based on research conducted by sites like VPNMentor. These platforms specialize in assisting users find effective methods for maintaining their online privacy amidst regulatory challenges.
### Popular Alternatives Gaining Traction
In light of the ban affecting access to X, alternative platforms such as Bluesky and Threads have experienced significant growth among users. Bluesky alone reported acquiring more than 500 thousand new members recently while also achieving record-high user engagement rates. Furthermore, both applications dominated weekend download charts within Brazil’s Apple App Store.
While these alternatives aren’t at par with established networks like Facebook or TikTok regarding overall popularity without access limitations imposed upon them through this restriction; many Brazilians express feelings of isolation from global conversations due solely because they can no longer use X freely—a sentiment highlighted by coverage from The Associated Press.
Additionally apprehension looms around how oppressive measures can accompany actions meant ostensibly for curbing authoritarian tendencies within society itself—leading prominent academics like Maurício Santoro from Rio de Janeiro’s State University reflecting critically upon technological freedoms resembling practices observed previously only under more repressive regimes alike China before outlawed here too prior said blockade came into force before him commenting publicly thereafter saying: “It shocks me realizing such tools would face prohibition here; this is frankly chilling.”
X did not furnish immediate commentary when approached by Business Insider concerning this matter.
