Expert Untangles VPNs as Brazil’s Twitter Ban Sparks New Interest
Sites, apps, and governments often block access regionally, requiring technical tools to get around them.

Last week, the government of Brazil banned X, formerly Twitter, cutting off millions of users from the Elon Musk-owned social network. It is one of the more high-profile examples of restrictions placed on platforms, and disputes around the world span a multitude of reasons: free speech (at least in the U.S.), political dissent, copyright, and illegal activity.

While alternate social media platforms like Bluesky saw a surge in new users from Brazil after the ban, some still insistent on using X have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs)—though doing so is also forbidden by the Brazilian government, and violations could come with a hefty daily fine.
Not all VPNs are created equal. Decrypt spoke to the executive director of Unredacted Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides free and open services that help people e…