X unblocked in Brazil
October 9, 2024
The high-profile suspension of social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil for over five weeks officially came to an end yesterday, after X owner Elon Musk complied with the legal demands of the Brazilian Supreme Court, explains the New York Times. According to MercoPress, X paid a fine of over USD $5.2 million to be reinstated, a move approved by the powerful Supreme Court Justice Alexandre De Moraes. X will also appoint a local representative, as required by Brazilian law, which it had not previously been willing to do, says BBC. Service was set to resume in the country within 24 hours of the ruling, returning access to the platform to its estimated 22 million users across the country (Reuters).
The Guardian addresses the beginning of the feud between X and the Supreme Court, explaining that, “The immediate trigger for the ban was Musk’s failure to name a local representative and pay millions of dollars worth of fines. But the backdrop was a long-running and politically charged battle between the outspoken tech billionaire and Brazil’s top court, which was trying to combat the dissemination of far-right misinformation and anti-democratic content on the social network.” In a statement on X from the Global Government Affairs team, Musk vowed to “continue to defend freedom of speech, within the boundaries of the law.” The New York Times profiles the wins and losses for both Musk and De Moraes, and assesses the future impact that this turn of events could have in the ongoing power struggle between countries and big tech companies, especially related to freedom of speech and disinformation.
More Brazil
In the Latin America Risk Report, James Bosworth offers analysis of the results of Brazil’s municipal elections (see LADB 10/7/24). He explains why local politics do not necessarily mirror national politics ,and what the results might mean for current president Lula and former president Bolsonaro.
Venezuela
In Foreign Affairs, Christopher Sabatini and Ryan Berg argue in favor of “a broad coalition… to adopt a much more coherent and well-coordinated long-term policy of constructive containment” for Nicolás Maduro and his increasingly brazen efforts to maintain control in Venezuela.
Colombia
President Gustavo Petro tweeted that a “coup d’état” against him had begun, in response to a National Electoral Council (CNE) investigation into an alleged overstep of campaign financing limits, say MercoPress and Colombia Reports.
As Al Jazeera notes, “the outcome of the investigation could result in fines, but the impeachment of Petro remains a distant prospect.”
James Bosworth’s most recent map on X delineates - with humor - the countries across the region in which actual coups are taking place.
Haiti
A new report by Human Rights Watch reported that armed gangs in Haiti are recruiting children, offering food, shelter, or money in return for fighting, domestic work, or even for sexual purposes, according to Reuters.
Bolivia
A report by Tierra de Bolivia showed that the country has experienced a record level of fires in 2024, having lost over 10 million hectares of land, says La Silla Vacía. Bolivia is the third country in the world most affected by forest fires.
Chile
Several incidents have occurred in Chile’s healthcare facilities, including the attempted stabbing of a patient and the threatening of doctors by drug traffickers, pushing Interior Minister Carolina Tohá to consider additional security measures at hospitals and other healthcare centers, says MercoPress.
Mexico
In The Nation, Ann Louise Deslandes notes how former president AMLO changed his tune regarding the murder of 43 students of the of the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College in 2014; AMLO had pledged to make the Ayotzinapa case a “central human rights commitment of his government,” though later increased support to the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA) and even sought a legislative reform “to consolidate the National Guard, a civil force, into the armed forces.”
InSight Crime analyzes the recent murder of Chilpancingo mayor Alejandro Arcos and newly-elected President Claudia Sheinbaum’s proposed security initiatives to address organized crime across the country.
Regional
The Dominican Republic deported over 11,000 Haitians over the past week, claiming an “excess” of immigrants as Haitians flee to their neighboring country in an effort to escape the violence plaguing their own, says AP News.
Argentina
In a move expected to cut costs and improve operations logistics, state-run oil company YPF will move its headquarters from the province of Neuquén - currently close to shale field Vaca Muerta - to the city of Buenos Aires, reports MercoPress.
In Cenital, Noelia Barral Grigera explains Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s complicated relationship with the Peronist movement, and highlights internal party tensions that have increased since CFK announced her decision to run for her party’s presidency in November (see yesterday’s LADB).
Guatemala
Despite being “criticized and sanctioned by countries around the world for allegedly obstructing corruption investigations and using her power to persecute political opponents,” Attorney General Consuelo Porras will be difficult to remove from her current position, says a legal analysis by Stanford Law School and Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice. (AP News)
Critter Corner
The unique Sunbittern was spotted in Costa Rica, says the Guardian. “If a bird were ever designed by artificial intelligence, the result might look rather like a sunbittern,” opines Stephen Moss.