Biden's silence on Brazil's X ban is a 'responsibility' for the US to address.

The former Brazilian President's foreign minister urged the Biden administration to condemn the country's ban on social media platform X, stating that the US has a "responsibility" to intervene.

Ernesto Araújo, who served as foreign minister under Bolsonaro from 2019 to 2021, stated that the U.S. has a responsibility to be the reference point for democracy, rule of law, and freedom in the hemisphere. However, the White House has been silent for too long, and its hesitation to advocate for free speech predates the ban on X.

"Araújo stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that the Biden administration has not met expectations regarding Brazil's situation, as the banning of X is just another step in curtailing basic rights and destroying democracy, which has been perpetrated by the Supreme Court, a significant portion of the political class, and the administration has not taken any action."

In Brazil, Justice Alexandre de Moraes suspended X's operations after the company failed to appoint a legal representative, resulting in an "immediate, complete, and total suspension."

The ban will remain in place until all court orders are complied with, fines are paid, and a new legal representative for the company is appointed in the country, as stated by The Guardian.

Elon Musk, the outspoken owner of X, has refused to comply with Moraes's order to ban several accounts related to individuals involved in an alleged attempted coup last year, despite the powerful judge's allegation that these accounts have spread misinformation and represent a threat.

Musk accused a Brazilian judge, who is an ally of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of attacking free speech and violating the Brazilian constitution. He also claimed in a post on X that the judge had targeted his platform for political reasons.

The White House and the U.S. State Department have not commented on the issue.

"Araújo stated that the U.S. has a responsibility to be an ally in protecting freedom in the hemisphere, rather than being an ally to those who are destroying freedom."

"The Biden administration and the Democratic Party show a lot of sympathy for the wrong people in Latin America, regardless of political affiliation," he stated. "It's not about right or left, it's about those who claim to support democracy."

The ban has resulted in a heavy division in Brazil, with many users switching to other platforms, such as Bluesky and Threads.

Although the Brazilian user base for X is only one-fifth and one-sixth that of Instagram and TikTok, respectively, the platform has had a significant impact on news agencies and political and thought leaders, making it a major influencer.

Izabela Patriota, the director of development of the Ladies of Liberty Alliance and head of its Brazil section, stated to FOX Business that protests will occur on Saturday, which is Brazil's Independence Day.

The ban on Bolsonaro's social media accounts could pave the way for further bans, according to former officials and allies of the former president. Patriota, a conservative politician, fears that the courts could take similar actions against other platforms and services if they are deemed to pose a threat. Additionally, Elon Musk, who owns Starlink, a satellite internet service, has also been targeted by de Moraes.

Starlink is granting access to numerous communities in the Amazon regions that were previously unable to connect due to the platform's availability, as stated by Patriota.

Araújo expressed concern about Brazil's international trajectory, particularly its growing alliance with "the territorial block of China, Russia, Iran."

"Araújo stated that Lula's intention is to play a game where he is aligning Brazil with the enemies of freedom and the United States."

"The fate of Lula's political future is in the hands of some individuals in the State Department or Democratic Party who believe that Lula is their ally, despite not fully understanding the situation in Brazil."

The White House declined to comment on a Planet Chronicle Digital request by the time of publication.