In a rare turn of events, the White House condemned an attack on free speech. The White House issued a rebuke against Brazil for not allowing the country’s residents to access Elon Musk’s X platform. “The White House issued a rare rebuke of Brazil Tuesday for banning the country’s residents from accessing X in a free-speech struggle with the platform’s billionaire owner Elon Musk,” journalist Michael Shellenberger wrote. “The White House issued a rare rebuke of Brazil Tuesday for banning the country’s residents from accessing X in a free-speech struggle with the platform’s billionaire owner Elon Musk.” Finally! pic.twitter.com/jpVlourkoh — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) September 18, 2024 “When it comes to social media, we have been very clear that we think that folks should have access to social media. It’s a form of freedom of speech,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, according to the New York Post. The outlet said her remarks came in response to a question from reporter Raquel Krähenbühl of Brazil’s TV Globo. BREAKING: White House condemns Brazil for banning ? in free-speech fight with Elon Musk. "When it comes to social media, we have been very clear that folks should have access to social media. It’s a form of freedom of speech” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. pic.twitter.com/ZzdGv8y36J — DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) September 18, 2024 From the New York Post: Brazil blocked the country’s more than 200 million residents from using X on Aug. 30 after Alexandre de Moraes, a powerful member of the country’s supreme court, demanded the censorship of a large number of accounts featuring alleged hate speech or misinformation. Musk refused, describing the diktat as anti-democratic and calling the judge a repressive “dictator” and “Brazil’s Darth Vader.” X pulled the company’s reps out of Brazil when de Moraes threatened to arrest them for not censoring the list of users ahead of the blanket ban. “Social media is not a no man’s land!” de Moraes wrote in an April ruling as his fight with Musk escalated. Ordinary Brazilians can still access X using VPN providers, but they can be fined for doing so under de Moraes’ policies. “Also today, members of Congress introduced anti-censorship legislation aimed at Brazil,” Shellenberger said. Also today, members of Congress introduced anti-censorship legislation aimed at Brazil. LFG!!! https://t.co/oPVQ3yG8tM — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) September 18, 2024 “Unexpected, but appreciated,” Elon Musk said in response to the report. Unexpected, but appreciated https://t.co/9uEwTgLjbh — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 18, 2024 “Brazil seized 18.35 million reais ($3.3 million) from the bank accounts of Elon Musk’s X and Starlink to pay for ‘fines’ imposed by the country’s Supreme Court,” 100 Percent Fed Up noted. Brazil Seizes Over $3 Million From Elon Musk-Owned Companies