Brazil bans X, spawning outrage

People took to X on Saturday to criticize a Brazilian judge's order blocking the site in the South American country. The judge blocked the social media platform until it abided by court orders and paid past-due fines.

X owes Brazil $3.28 million in fines, Fox Business reported.

The order sparked outrage.

"X is the most used news source in Brazil. It is what the people want. Now, the tyrant de Voldemort is crushing the people’s right to free speech," Elon Musk, the owner of X, said.

The shuttering of X in Brazil is the latest action in an ongoing dispute between a Brazilian Supreme Court justice and Musk. Justice Alexandre de Moraes's order also blocks Starlink, a satellite internet provider Musk owns.

"The current Brazilian administration likes to wear the cloak of a free democracy, while crushing the people under its boot," Musk added.

To avoid evasion of the order via VPNs, Moraes's order imposes a fine of up to $9,000 per day for companies or individuals who attempt to maintain access to the social media platform.

"Brazil is banning X for one reason: to suppress free speech and thought. Unsurprisingly, Lula supports this decision, because he too seeks to ban free speech and thought. Biden courted Lula, celebrated his election, and called him a personal friend. That too is unsurprising," wrote Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Moraes earlier ordered X to remove some accounts, including the account of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, for allegedly spreading misinformation and hateful material about the current Brazilian government.

Musk resisted the order, claiming complying would violate "Brazilian, Argentinian, American and international law."