The article outlines the countries that have banned or restricted access to X (formerly Twitter), often due to its use by political dissidents and its potential to spread information challenging the government. Some of the key countries mentioned include:
China - Banned Twitter in June 2009, right before the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. Chinese citizens often use domestic platforms like Weibo and WeChat instead.
Iran - Blocked Twitter in 2009 following disputed presidential elections, but the platform is still used to share information about dissident movements.
Turkmenistan - Blocked Twitter in the early 2010s as part of broader restrictions on foreign online services, with strict government surveillance on internet use.
North Korea - Blocked Twitter in April 2016, allowing only limited access to a few government websites and social media for high-ranking officials.
Myanmar - Banned X in February 2021 following a military coup, as part of broader internet restrictions.
Russia - Throttled access to Twitter in 2021, followed by a formal ban in March 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine. Many Russians bypass the block using VPNs.
Pakistan - Banned X since February 2024, citing security reasons, particularly targeting content related to former prime minister Imran Khan.
Venezuela - Blocked access to X for 10 days in August 2024 following contested elections and violent suppression of protests, with the ban extending beyond the initial period.
Brazil - Recently banned X by order of Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes due to the reactivation of accounts previously suspended by the courts. Users attempting to access X via VPN face significant fines.
These bans are often linked to government efforts to control information and suppress dissent, particularly during times of political unrest or in authoritarian regimes.