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The same judge that is responsible for X's suspension ordered Apple and Google to take down VPN apps from their app stores as well. https://web.archive.org/web

The same judge that is responsible for X's suspension ordered Apple and Google to take down VPN apps from their app stores as well. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830201851/https://www.conjur.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PET-12404-Assinada.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20240830201851/https://www.conju... (Page 49 and 50, document is in Portuguese) Brazil is heading down a very dark path.

ddtaylor 2y ago
For anyone curious: Proton VPN Express VPN NordVPN Surfshark, TOTALVPN Atlas VPN Bitdefender VPN There are some pretty well known VPNs that are NOT on that list. Private Internet Access (PIA) for example is absent. Sure, it's used more for torrenting than anything else, but it's one of the most popular VPNs. I thought maybe PIA just doesn't operate in Brazil, but they actually have a specific page dedicated to it: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-server/brazil-vpn https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-server/brazil-vpn Maybe that VPN is already illegal somehow in Brazil?
- throwaway87267 2y ago
  The listed VPNs are just examples. The order to take down VPN apps affects every VPN provider.
  - codetrotter 2y ago
    What about apps like WireGuard for iOS, which implements the WireGuard VPN protocol but is not offering any paid VPN services or subscriptions. Are those kinds of apps banned too?
    - virgulino 2y ago
      And what about Anti-Viruses / Security apps, that usually have VPN functionality? This is Kafkaesque!
  - Teknomancer 2y ago
    F-droid might be a solution. ProtonVPN, possibly others can be installed.
    - matheusmoreira 2y ago
      Wouldn't be surprised if he banned/fined F-Droid too.
      - ddtaylor 2y ago
        I think F-Droid is available as a regular APK on their website?
- matheusmoreira 2y ago
  Everything this judge hates is illegal. Only their complete technological incompetence can save us.
virgulino 2y ago
Thank you very much for posting this document. From what I'm reading, it also orders Apple and Google to DELETE VPN apps already installed on users' phones! (I think this has been done in the past, in Brazil)
walterbell 2y ago
Microsoft and Apple operating systems include native VPN clients capable of connecting to many commercial and enterprise VPNs. Some routers and mobile hotspots include VPN clients, over which mobile phone traffic can be routed. Arbitrary traffic can be tunneled over SSH to a low-cost VPS. Web browser extensions can tunnel traffic over SOCKS proxy. Tor/Tails can route traffic globally, without VPN. Other network arms races: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41396206 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41396206
- codedokode 2y ago
  VPN protocols are easy to recognize and block using DPI unless they masquerade as legitimate traffic.
  - walterbell 2y ago
    Does Brazil have a national firewall like China?
    - betaby 2y ago
      Not yet. Individual ISP implement blocking lists throughout IP ACLs but mostly by DNS means.
btilly 2y ago
Are computer VPN apps also banned? How are they planning to handle remote employees whose employers use VPNs?
- throwaway87267 2y ago
  The document makes no mention of any desktop OS, so computer VPN apps should be safe.
Zezinho 2y ago
That's not what is written in the document. VPN apps are compelled to block access to X in Brazil.
- throwaway87267 2y ago
  CNN Brazil and Folha de S.Paulo both can back up my interpretation of the court order. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830223541/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/tec/2024/08/moraes-restringe-acesso-a-vpns-para-driblar-bloqueio-do-x-mas-fiscalizacao-e-dificil.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20240830223541/https://www1.folh... https://web.archive.org/web/20240830223743/https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/saiba-qual-foi-a-determinacao-de-moraes-para-apple-google-e-provedores-bloquearem-acesso-ao-x/ https://web.archive.org/web/20240830223743/https://www.cnnbr... The specific section about removing VPNs from apps stores is quite unclear, I'll give you that, but factoring in how that section is structured, it's safe to say it's meant to be an order to remove VPNs from app stores.
dannyphantom 2y ago
Thank you for the link. I uploaded the ruling to the Internet Archive along with a copy of the document I pushed through Google Translate (which may not be perfect). https://archive.org/details/Brazil-Court-Suspends-X https://archive.org/details/Brazil-Court-Suspends-X > IN VIEW OF ALL THE ABOVE, given the necessary legal requirements, fumus boni iuris – consisting of the repeated, conscious and voluntary failure to comply with court orders and failure to pay the daily fines applied, in addition to the attempt to not submit to the Brazilian legal system and Judiciary, to establish an environment of total impunity and “lawless land” on social networks as well as > Brazilians, including during the 2024 municipal elections, the periculum in mora – consisting of the maintenance and expansion of the instrumentalization of X BRAZIL, through the action of extremist groups and digital militias on social networks, with massive dissemination of Nazi, racist, fascist, hate speeches, anti-democratic speeches, including in the period leading up to the 2024 municipal elections, > I DETERMINE: > (1) IMMEDIATE, COMPLETE AND INTEGRAL SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF “X BRASIL INTERNET LTDA” in the national territory, until all court orders issued in these proceedings are complied with, fines are duly paid and a legal or natural person representing the company in the national territory is appointed in court. In the case of a legal entity, its administrative representative must also be appointed. The President of the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL), CARLOS MANUEL BAIGORRI must be notified, including by electronic means, to IMMEDIATELY take all necessary measures to implement the measure, with this COURT being notified within a maximum of 24 (twentyfour) hours. > (2) THE SUMMONS, to be complied with within 5 (five) days, and must immediately notify the court of the companies (2.1) APPLE and GOOGLE in Brazil to insert technological obstacles capable of making it impossible for users of the IOS (APPLE) and ANDROID (GOOGLE) systems to use the “X” application and remove the “X” application from the APPLE STORE and GOOGLE PLAY STORE stores and, similarly, in relation to applications that enable the use of VPN ('virtual private network'), such as, for example: Proton VPN, Express VPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, TOTALVPN, Atlas VPN, Bitdefender VPN; (2.2) Which manage backbone access services in Brazil, so that they insert technological obstacles in them capable of making it impossible for users of the “X” application to use; > (2.3) Internet service providers, represented by their Presidents, for example ALGAR TELECOM, OI, SKY, LIVE TIM, VIVO, CLARO, NET VIRTUA, GVT, etc..., so that they insert technological obstacles capable of making the use of the application “X” unfeasible; and (2.4) That manage personal mobile service and switched fixed telephone service, so that they insert technological obstacles capable of making the use of the application “X” unfeasible > (3) THE APPLICATION OF A DAILY FINE of R$50,000.00 (fifty thousand reais) to individuals and legal entities that engage in conduct involving the use of technological subterfuges to continue communications carried out by “X”, such as the use of VPN ('virtual private network'), without prejudice to other civil and criminal sanctions, in accordance with the law.
throwaway87267 2y ago
Since I can't edit my comment anymore, here's an update: The order to take down VPN apps from app stores has been suspended until further action by X or Elon Musk. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830235848/https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/08/suspensao-item-2.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20240830235848/https://www.cnnbr...
nemo44x 2y ago
> Brazil is heading down a very dark path. But predictable. Contempt of and banning speech because it’s disruptive to the regime (cynically “our democracy”) and harassing political opposition is commonplace for socialist and leftist governments.

ddtaylor 2y ago

For anyone curious: Proton VPN Express VPN NordVPN Surfshark, TOTALVPN Atlas VPN Bitdefender VPN There are some pretty well known VPNs that are NOT on that list. Private Internet Access (PIA) for example is absent. Sure, it's used more for torrenting than anything else, but it's one of the most popular VPNs. I thought maybe PIA just doesn't operate in Brazil, but they actually have a specific page dedicated to it: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-server/brazil-vpn https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-server/brazil-vpn Maybe that VPN is already illegal somehow in Brazil?

throwaway87267 2y ago
The listed VPNs are just examples. The order to take down VPN apps affects every VPN provider.
- codetrotter 2y ago
  What about apps like WireGuard for iOS, which implements the WireGuard VPN protocol but is not offering any paid VPN services or subscriptions. Are those kinds of apps banned too?
  - virgulino 2y ago
    And what about Anti-Viruses / Security apps, that usually have VPN functionality? This is Kafkaesque!
- Teknomancer 2y ago
  F-droid might be a solution. ProtonVPN, possibly others can be installed.
  - matheusmoreira 2y ago
    Wouldn't be surprised if he banned/fined F-Droid too.
    - ddtaylor 2y ago
      I think F-Droid is available as a regular APK on their website?
matheusmoreira 2y ago
Everything this judge hates is illegal. Only their complete technological incompetence can save us.

virgulino 2y ago

Thank you very much for posting this document. From what I'm reading, it also orders Apple and Google to DELETE VPN apps already installed on users' phones! (I think this has been done in the past, in Brazil)

walterbell 2y ago

Microsoft and Apple operating systems include native VPN clients capable of connecting to many commercial and enterprise VPNs. Some routers and mobile hotspots include VPN clients, over which mobile phone traffic can be routed. Arbitrary traffic can be tunneled over SSH to a low-cost VPS. Web browser extensions can tunnel traffic over SOCKS proxy. Tor/Tails can route traffic globally, without VPN. Other network arms races: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41396206 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41396206

codedokode 2y ago
VPN protocols are easy to recognize and block using DPI unless they masquerade as legitimate traffic.
- walterbell 2y ago
  Does Brazil have a national firewall like China?
  - betaby 2y ago
    Not yet. Individual ISP implement blocking lists throughout IP ACLs but mostly by DNS means.

btilly 2y ago

Are computer VPN apps also banned? How are they planning to handle remote employees whose employers use VPNs?

throwaway87267 2y ago
The document makes no mention of any desktop OS, so computer VPN apps should be safe.

Zezinho 2y ago

That's not what is written in the document. VPN apps are compelled to block access to X in Brazil.

throwaway87267 2y ago
CNN Brazil and Folha de S.Paulo both can back up my interpretation of the court order. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830223541/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/tec/2024/08/moraes-restringe-acesso-a-vpns-para-driblar-bloqueio-do-x-mas-fiscalizacao-e-dificil.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20240830223541/https://www1.folh... https://web.archive.org/web/20240830223743/https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/saiba-qual-foi-a-determinacao-de-moraes-para-apple-google-e-provedores-bloquearem-acesso-ao-x/ https://web.archive.org/web/20240830223743/https://www.cnnbr... The specific section about removing VPNs from apps stores is quite unclear, I'll give you that, but factoring in how that section is structured, it's safe to say it's meant to be an order to remove VPNs from app stores.

dannyphantom 2y ago

Thank you for the link. I uploaded the ruling to the Internet Archive along with a copy of the document I pushed through Google Translate (which may not be perfect). https://archive.org/details/Brazil-Court-Suspends-X https://archive.org/details/Brazil-Court-Suspends-X > IN VIEW OF ALL THE ABOVE, given the necessary legal requirements, fumus boni iuris – consisting of the repeated, conscious and voluntary failure to comply with court orders and failure to pay the daily fines applied, in addition to the attempt to not submit to the Brazilian legal system and Judiciary, to establish an environment of total impunity and “lawless land” on social networks as well as > Brazilians, including during the 2024 municipal elections, the periculum in mora – consisting of the maintenance and expansion of the instrumentalization of X BRAZIL, through the action of extremist groups and digital militias on social networks, with massive dissemination of Nazi, racist, fascist, hate speeches, anti-democratic speeches, including in the period leading up to the 2024 municipal elections, > I DETERMINE: > (1) IMMEDIATE, COMPLETE AND INTEGRAL SUSPENSION OF THE OPERATION OF “X BRASIL INTERNET LTDA” in the national territory, until all court orders issued in these proceedings are complied with, fines are duly paid and a legal or natural person representing the company in the national territory is appointed in court. In the case of a legal entity, its administrative representative must also be appointed. The President of the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL), CARLOS MANUEL BAIGORRI must be notified, including by electronic means, to IMMEDIATELY take all necessary measures to implement the measure, with this COURT being notified within a maximum of 24 (twentyfour) hours. > (2) THE SUMMONS, to be complied with within 5 (five) days, and must immediately notify the court of the companies (2.1) APPLE and GOOGLE in Brazil to insert technological obstacles capable of making it impossible for users of the IOS (APPLE) and ANDROID (GOOGLE) systems to use the “X” application and remove the “X” application from the APPLE STORE and GOOGLE PLAY STORE stores and, similarly, in relation to applications that enable the use of VPN ('virtual private network'), such as, for example: Proton VPN, Express VPN, NordVPN, Surfshark, TOTALVPN, Atlas VPN, Bitdefender VPN; (2.2) Which manage backbone access services in Brazil, so that they insert technological obstacles in them capable of making it impossible for users of the “X” application to use; > (2.3) Internet service providers, represented by their Presidents, for example ALGAR TELECOM, OI, SKY, LIVE TIM, VIVO, CLARO, NET VIRTUA, GVT, etc..., so that they insert technological obstacles capable of making the use of the application “X” unfeasible; and (2.4) That manage personal mobile service and switched fixed telephone service, so that they insert technological obstacles capable of making the use of the application “X” unfeasible > (3) THE APPLICATION OF A DAILY FINE of R$50,000.00 (fifty thousand reais) to individuals and legal entities that engage in conduct involving the use of technological subterfuges to continue communications carried out by “X”, such as the use of VPN ('virtual private network'), without prejudice to other civil and criminal sanctions, in accordance with the law.

throwaway87267 2y ago

Since I can't edit my comment anymore, here's an update: The order to take down VPN apps from app stores has been suspended until further action by X or Elon Musk. https://web.archive.org/web/20240830235848/https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2024/08/suspensao-item-2.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20240830235848/https://www.cnnbr...

nemo44x 2y ago

> Brazil is heading down a very dark path. But predictable. Contempt of and banning speech because it’s disruptive to the regime (cynically “our democracy”) and harassing political opposition is commonplace for socialist and leftist governments.