With its recent ban of X, formerly known as Twitter, which took effect on Saturday, Brazil joins a small group of countries that have implemented similar measures against the social network. Most of these countries are governed by authoritarian regimes.
In addition to permanent bans, some nations have temporarily restricted access to X, a platform often utilized by political dissidents for communication.
These countries include Egypt during the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, Turkey in both 2014 and 2023, and Uzbekistan during the 2021 presidential election.
Here is a list of some other countries that have restricted X:
China
China blocked Twitter in June 2009, even before the platform gained significant influence in Western media and politics. The ban occurred two days before the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests. Since then, many Chinese users have turned to domestic alternatives like Weibo and WeChat.
Iran
Tehran blocked Twitter in 2009 amidst widespread protests following a disputed presidential election in June of that year. Despite the ban, Twitter has continued to be used to share information with the outside world, especially during protests against Iran’s crackdown on women’s rights since late 2022.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan, an isolated Central Asian nation, blocked Twitter in the early 2010s along with many other foreign online services. The government tightly monitors internet usage through the state-run monopoly, TurkmenTelecom.
North Korea
North Korea created its own Twitter account in 2010 to attract the interest of foreigners. However, by April 2016, the regime had blocked Twitter along with Facebook, YouTube, and websites related to gambling and pornography. Internet access is heavily restricted in North Korea, limited mainly to high-ranking officials.
Myanmar
Twitter has been blocked in Myanmar since February 2021, following the military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government. The junta has since maintained strict control over internet access.
Russia
Russia began throttling access to Twitter in 2021, accusing the platform of allowing users to spread “illegal content.” A formal ban was imposed in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, many Russian users continue to access X using VPN services to bypass the block.
Pakistan
Pakistan banned X during parliamentary elections in February 2023, citing security concerns as the reason for the restriction.
Venezuela
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered a 10-day suspension of X on August 9, following allegations of fraud in the July presidential election and violent crackdowns on nationwide protests. The ban has persisted beyond the initial 10-day period.
Brazil
Brazil’s ban on X was ordered by Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes. The decision was based on the reactivation of accounts that had previously been suspended by Brazilian courts. Users who attempt to access X via a VPN face a daily fine of 50,000 reais (approximately $8,900).
For more news and information Pak News Affairs
