In a surprising twist, Brazilians regained access to the social media platform X after an update temporarily bypassed a block order from the country’s Supreme Court. Users in Brazil, who had been cut off for weeks following a legal standoff between Elon Musk and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, flocked back to the platform on Wednesday, celebrating what many saw as Musk’s defiance of the law.
The social media platform later clarified the situation, explaining that a recent switch in network providers inadvertently allowed Brazilian users to reconnect. This network shift, initially prompted by Brazil’s shutdown order, unintentionally restored access while attempting to maintain service for other parts of Latin America. X warned, however, that the access could be short-lived.
According to the Brazilian Association of Internet and Telecommunications Providers (Abrint), the update routed some users through third-party cloud services outside of Brazil, allowing access without the need for a virtual private network (VPN). Brazil’s telecom regulator, Anatel, is working to reimplement the block but faces complications due to the intricate nature of cloud-based infrastructure.
Basilio Perez, a board member at Abrint, noted that blocking cloud access could disrupt critical services, including those of government agencies and financial institutions, making the task more complex. Though the ban will likely be re-enforced, the timeline remains uncertain as authorities work to navigate these challenges.
