In Brazil, some users managed to circumvent the nationwide ban on X on Wednesday, potentially due to the social network altering the way its servers are accessed. The ban, implemented by Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Aug. 30, was a result of disputes with Elon Musk regarding account removals and free speech boundaries. De Moraes ordered fines on individuals using virtual private networks (VPN) to access X.

Despite the ban, some users, including AP journalists, noticed a reconnection to X on Wednesday. Investigations into X’s IP addresses revealed a possible rerouting through Cloudflare’s servers before reaching X’s own servers. Pedro Diogenes, CLM’s Latin America technical director specializing in cybersecurity, explained this method as a “digital shield” employed by Musk’s platform to safeguard its servers.

While the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) stated it would investigate the situation and report to the Supreme Court, de Moraes’ ban remains in effect. A group of justices supported de Moraes’ decision, and concerns were raised about the fines associated with VPN usage. The Supreme Court opted not to comment on potential actions, and Cloudflare did not immediately respond to inquiries. Musk had not addressed the X situation publicly by late afternoon.

Former president Jair Bolsonaro welcomed X’s return, aligning with Musk against de Moraes and framing the ban as censorship. Brazilian X users celebrated the platform’s reappearance, with some publicly asserting they were not using VPNs. Thus far, no reports have emerged about VPN users facing fines.

Although Cloudflare is known for safeguarding websites regardless of content, it has historically terminated services for certain sites like the neo-Nazi platform Daily Stormer and the harassment site Kiwi Farms. The implications of Cloudflare’s relationship with X in light of Brazil’s ban are uncertain, especially given Cloudflare’s history of government collaboration.

Nemer, an expert in technology anthropology, indicated that pressuring Musk through his Starlink internet service might be an option for de Moraes. Last week, de Moraes seized funds from X and Starlink to settle fines. Legal experts have questioned de Moraes’ action of freezing Starlink’s account, as X and SpaceX (owner Musk’s other venture) are distinct entities. However, de Moraes views them as part of the same economic entity. Mafei, a law professor, suggested that under usual circumstances, Musk’s actions could lead to arrest in Brazil for obstructing judicial measures.