Several virtual private networks (VPNs) have disappeared from the Brazilian iOS App Store. This comes amid a rift between Elon Musk's X platform and a high court magistrate in the country over censorship issues.
Reclaim The Net reported on Aug. 20 that several reputable VPN services can no longer be found in the local app store for Apple devices. Such VPNs include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, VyprVPN and Surfshark. ProtonVPN, another notable service, reported a staggering 580 percent surge in new registrations recently.
"We are aware of problems in Brazil with downloading ProtonVPN from the iOS App store, [something] also impacting other VPNs. The problem is not on our end, but is an app store issue. [It] could be a bug, or Apple implementing a secret censorship order," the service posted on X.
A report by the vpnMentor website also mentioned that VPN usage in the South American country saw a spike over the weekend. The rise in VPN demand began on Aug. 17 and continued its ascent, peaking at 151 percent the following day, Aug. 18.
"Acquiring these tools has become challenging," said Reclaim The Net. "Attempts to install these apps from the iOS App store are met with no option to download, indicating a blockade rather than a mere removal."
Apple's move to take down VPNs from Brazil's iOS App Store is widely believed to comply with edicts by authorities in Brasilia. It also follows the recent decision by X to shut down its operations in the country.
"X terminated its [Brazilian] operations after a protracted legal confrontation with Brazilian officials, who had accused the platform of insufficient efforts to combat disinformation, specifically its failure to block accounts spreading false information and hate speech," Reclaim The Net continued. "Despite the shutdown, X's app is still accessible in Brazil."
X refuses to yield to Brasilia's censorship demands
The vpnMentor website also outlined how the feud between Musk and the Brazilian government came to a head. In April, X's global government affairs page revealed that the platform had to block specific accounts in Brazil. The order was part of an investigation into alleged "digital militias" allegedly spreading disinformation.
Despite being forbidden to reveal the specific court or judge issuing the order, Musk directly named Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as the one behind the order in a later post. The X owner also disclosed that the platform was ordered to suspend active members of Brazil's National Congress and notable journalists.
According to Musk, the censorship directives from Moraes were "the most draconian demands of any country." He subsequently called for the magistrate to step down, claiming that Moraes had levied significant fines on X. Musk even compared the bald Brazilian magistrate to the villain Lord Voldemort from the "Harry Potter" franchise.
Moraes included Musk himself in an investigation of X after the South African-born entrepreneur said he would reinstate the accounts in question. He accused the Tesla and SpaceX CEO of obstruction of justice and incitement to crime. In response, X's government affairs page posted other censorship orders issued by Moraes.
Musk decided to close down X's operations in Brazil after Moraes allegedly threatened to have one of the platform's lawyers arrested. The X owner had earlier warned of potential revenue loss in Brazil following Moraes' exorbitant fines, insinuating the potential closure of X's office in the country. (Related: X employees in Brazil threatened with arrest over censorship beef with government, warns Elon Musk.)
"The current scenario underscores the critical importance of VPN services in safeguarding internet freedom in Brazil," Reclaim The Net ultimately remarked. "As digital platforms face governmental pressures and the landscape of internet accessibility continues to evolve, the role of VPNs as tools for ensuring unrestricted access to information becomes ever more vital."
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