A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media platform X in Brazil due to Musk's refusal to name a legal representative in the country. The decision comes after a prolonged dispute between the two parties over issues related to free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes had previously warned Musk to name a representative for X in Brazil, setting a 24-hour deadline for compliance. As X failed to appoint a representative, de Moraes ordered internet service providers and app stores to block access to the platform within five days. The platform will remain blocked until it adheres to the court's orders.
De Moraes criticized Musk for showing disrespect towards Brazilian sovereignty and the judiciary, accusing him of acting as a supranational entity immune to local laws. X, an important platform in Brazil with millions of users, has faced challenges since Musk acquired it from Twitter in 2022.
The ongoing conflict between X and de Moraes revolves around the platform's reluctance to comply with court orders to block certain users, including lawmakers and activists. Musk, known for his stance on free speech, has labeled the justice's actions as censorship, a sentiment echoed by Brazil's political right.
De Moraes defended his actions as lawful and necessary to protect democracy, citing Brazilian laws requiring foreign companies to have representation in the country. The shutdown of X is reminiscent of past instances where Brazilian authorities took similar actions against tech companies like Meta's WhatsApp and Telegram.
Despite the potential use of VPNs by Brazilian users to circumvent the block, de Moraes warned of fines for those attempting to access X through such means. The situation has led some users to explore alternative platforms like BlueSky.
Meanwhile, Musk's Starlink service also faced financial restrictions in Brazil, prompting a response from SpaceX to provide free internet service in the country until the issue is resolved. The legal battle between Musk's companies and Brazilian authorities continues, with implications for the future of tech regulation in the country.
