The vpnMentor Research Team recently observed a significant surge in VPN usage in Brazil, with a 151% increase following the announcement of the closure of X’s (formerly Twitter) local headquarters.
The closure, announced by Elon Musk, came after alleged threats from Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes against X’s staff, leading to a standoff between the tech giant and Brazilian authorities.
Tensions between Elon Musk and Judge Alexandre de Moraes had been escalating since April 2024. It all began when X’s global government affairs team revealed that the platform had been compelled to block certain accounts in Brazil as part of an investigation into “digital militias” accused of spreading disinformation. However, the specific posts or accounts violating Brazilian law were never clearly identified.
Despite a gag order preventing X from disclosing the court or judge behind the orders, Musk openly challenged Moraes, revealing that X was directed to suspend the accounts of Brazilian parliament members and prominent journalists. Musk described these orders as “the most draconian demands of any country” and publicly called for Moraes’ resignation. He also warned of potential financial repercussions in Brazil and hinted at the possibility of closing X’s local office.
The situation escalated when Musk announced that he intended to reinstate the suspended accounts, prompting Moraes to include him in an investigation for obstruction of justice and incitement to crime. The final straw came when Moraes allegedly threatened to arrest one of X’s lawyers, leading Musk to shut down the company’s headquarters in Brazil.
Surge in VPN Usage
Despite X’s service continuing in Brazil, the closure of the local headquarters and the surrounding circumstances triggered a sharp increase in VPN usage within the country. According to vpnMentor’s Research Team, demand for VPNs started climbing immediately after Musk’s announcement on Saturday and peaked at 151% by Sunday, August 18th.
This spike reflects growing concerns among Brazilian users about online privacy, freedom of speech, and the potential for increased government surveillance or censorship.
This surge in Brazil is not an isolated incident. Recently, a similar increase in VPN usage in other countries facing political unrest or government-imposed restrictions. For instance, Venezuela saw a significant rise in VPN demand after the government blocked access to X for 10 days during protests.
