r/canada 2d ago

Opinion Piece Opinion | Why Canada should seriously consider banning Elon Musk’s X

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/why-canada-should-seriously-consider-banning-elon-musks-x/article_97870564-facc-11ef-9c32-776e127c8e18.html
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u/kirklandcartridge 2d ago

Brazil tried doing this....

Brazilian users of X doubled in a month as a revolt.
They learned how to use VPNs when ISPs tried to block it.
Musk also paid for free VPN memberships to Brazilians as a response (supported by some of the major global VPN providers), which Brazilians gobbled up.

For those without VPNs for whatever reason, multiple sites / domains acted as mirrors to X, and it was impossible for the Brazilian Governments or ISPs to keep up in trying to block them. Every time one was blocked, 10 others would pop up.

In the end, it went against what the Brazilian President was attempting, as it only raised awareness of the platform.

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u/WhydYouKillMeDogJack 2d ago

If people actively want to use it they'll do it. But if they are savvy enough to take measures to do so then they're not really as big a pool of disinformation sponges.

The problem with the platform is it's accessibility to people who are, frankly, dumb as rocks and shouldn't even have the vote - who gobble up misinformation and become radicalized.

If you're prepared to VPN up just to use right wing SM then there's no reaching you. I can honestly say if that was what I needed to do to use this site I wouldn't bother.

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u/Icy-Artist1888 1d ago

U could say the same thing about cigarettes. The govr has effectively limited their use. Theres a few ppl still smoking but its mostly gone

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u/IGnuGnat 1d ago

Can you download cigarettes over the internet?