In Sao Paulo, Brazil, huge demonstrations were held on Saturday with supporters of former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro protesting the government's decision to block the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The demonstrations, which took place on Brazilian Independence Day, were sparked by the Supreme Court's decision to ban the use of the network after a protracted confrontation with its owner, Elon Musk.
The protesters argued that blocking the network was evidence of political persecution by the government and judges. While Bolsonaro himself called on his supporters to stay away from official Independence Day parades and join the protest, stressing that "a country without liberty cannot celebrate anything."
The protests are an important test of Bolsonaro's ability to rally supporters ahead of municipal elections in October, even though the court has barred him from running for public office until 2030. The block also sparked controversy among Bolsonaro's opponents, with some speaking out against the decision, arguing that it contributed to deepening political polarization in Brazil.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who led the legal battle against X, said the move was aimed at preventing the spread of disinformation by far-right groups. His decision, supported by Supreme Court justices, also included a $9,000 fine for anyone who uses virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the block.
* Channel 14 contributed to this article.
