Outrage in Brazil: Bolsonaro Supporters Rally Against X Ban, Citing Free Speech

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gathered in Sao Paulo for an Independence Day rally, motivated by the government's blocking of Elon Musk's X platform. Demonstrators, dressed in Brazil's yellow and green, filled Av. Paulista, displaying banners thanking Musk for defending freedom.

Bolsonaro's Call to Action

Bolsonaro had urged Brazilians to join him in Sao Paulo instead of attending official parades. "A country without liberty can't celebrate anything this day," he wrote on Instagram on September 4. The rally serves as a test of his influence ahead of the October municipal elections, despite his ban from running until 2030.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the nationwide ban on X on August 30 after disputes with Musk over free speech limits. De Moraes has led efforts to stop far-right misinformation on social media, intensifying after Bolsonaro supporters attacked Congress and the presidential palace on January 8, 2023.

Political Polarisation and Free Speech

The ban has deepened Brazil's political divide. Bolsonaro's allies accuse the judiciary and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government of silencing their movement. "Elon Musk has been a warrior for freedom of speech," said Bia Kicis, a Bolsonaro ally and lawmaker. Retiree Amaro Santos added, "Our liberties are in danger; we need to make our voices heard."

Musk, who calls himself a "free speech absolutist," encouraged Brazilians to attend the rally. He reshared a post claiming that X's ban had awakened people to the need to fight for freedom. Musk also created an X account named after de Moraes to publish court orders directing X to shut down unlawful accounts.

Legal and Social Media Battles

De Moraes' decision was upheld by fellow Supreme Court justices. While online expression is more easily censored in Brazil than in the US, Musk has become a symbol for unrestricted free speech. Since 2019, X has shut down 226 far-right accounts accused of undermining Brazil's democracy, including those linked to Bolsonaro's party.

When X refused to act on some accounts, de Moraes warned that its top executive could be arrested, leading X to close its local office. The company did not name a new legal representative as required to receive court notices, prompting de Moraes to order its suspension until it complied.

A Supreme Court panel unanimously supported de Moraes' decision days later, challenging Musk's portrayal of him as an authoritarian censoring political speech. The ruling included a USD 9,000 daily fine for Brazilians using VPNs to access X.

Defiance and Legal Consequences

Some right-wing politicians defied de Moraes' ban by using VPNs to post on X and call for protest participation. The Sao Paulo march coincided with official events celebrating Brazil's independence from Portugal. These commemorations have been tense in recent years as Bolsonaro used them to rally support while in office.

Three years ago, Bolsonaro threatened a constitutional crisis by declaring he would no longer follow de Moraes' rulings. He has since toned down his attacks due to his legal troubles. Bolsonaro has been indicted twice since his term ended in 2022, most recently for alleged money laundering involving undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia.

De Moraes is also investigating whether Bolsonaro incited the January 8 riot. "Some measures adopted by the Supreme Court appear quite onerous and abusive," said Andrei Roman, CEO of pollster Atlas Intel.

The rally highlighted ongoing tensions and political divisions in Brazil as supporters continue to back Bolsonaro despite legal challenges and bans on social media platforms like X.