Letter Signed by Free Speech Advocates Criticizes Brazil’s Censorship of X

A coalition of free speech advocates, including government officials, journalists, and academics, has issued a strong rebuke to the Brazilian government over its censorship of X (formerly Twitter). The group condemned Brazil's decision to block the social media platform, calling it an attack on free expression and a dangerous precedent for democracies worldwide.

The controversy began last month when Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of X after the platform, owned by Elon Musk, refused to censor specific political accounts. X responded by accusing the judge of attempting to silence his political opponents, including a Brazilian senator and even a 16-year-old girl.

In a statement, X Global Government Affairs emphasized their refusal to “comply in secret with illegal orders” and vowed to stand against the overreach. Brazilians using VPNs to access X could face fines as high as $9,000 per day under the ruling.

Spearheaded by Alliance Defending Freedom, a prominent free speech law firm, the letter condemns Brazil’s actions as “judicial overreach” that violates the country’s own constitution, which prohibits political, ideological, and artistic censorship.

Key signatories of the letter include:

• Five U.S. Attorneys General

• Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss

• Princeton professor Dr. Robert George

• Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon

• Journalist Michael Shellenberger

• Author Rod Dreher

• Former U.S. Senator Sam Brownback

The letter warns of the dangerous precedent Brazil’s actions could set globally. “If this censorship in Brazil is allowed to persist, it could set a dangerous precedent that quickly spreads,” the letter reads, citing growing pro-censorship sentiments among world leaders. “There is no quicker path to the demise of democracy than the erosion of free speech.”

The letter calls on the Brazilian government to restore access to X and respect its citizens’ right to express their views without fear of retribution. “The courts should immediately lift the ban on the use of X within Brazil,” said Jeremy Tedesco, Alliance Defending Freedom’s senior vice president of corporate engagement. “Freedom of expression is not negotiable, nor is it a privilege it is the cornerstone of every democratic society.”

As the open letter gains momentum, with over 1,600 signatures and counting, global attention is now focused on how Brazil will respond to growing pressure to end its censorship.

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