A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media platform X in Brazil. This decision came after Musk refused to name a legal representative in the country. Justice Alexandre de Moraes had given Musk a 24-hour deadline to comply with his order, but the tech billionaire did not meet the requirement.
As a result, Judge De Moraes instructed internet service providers and app stores to block access to X in Brazil. The platform will remain blocked until it adheres to the court’s orders. Those using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access X will face daily fines of 50,000 reais (£6,800).
Judge De Moraes criticised Musk for showing disrespect towards Brazilian sovereignty and the judiciary. He accused Musk of acting as a supranational entity immune to the laws of individual countries. X has been operating in Brazil without a legal representative since earlier this month.
Brazil is a significant market for X, with around 40 million Brazilians, roughly one-fifth of the population, using the platform at least once a month. The company has faced challenges with advertisers since Musk acquired it from Twitter in 2022.
X expressed its concerns on its official Global Government Affairs page, stating that it anticipated the shutdown due to its refusal to censor political opponents as ordered by Judge De Moraes. The company claimed that its legal representative in Brazil was threatened with imprisonment, leading to her resignation and freezing of her bank accounts.
The clash between X and Judge De Moraes stems from the platform’s reluctance to comply with orders to block certain users. This move is not unprecedented in Brazil, as in the past, Meta’s WhatsApp was shut down multiple times for similar reasons.
In related news, anti-immigration preacher Calvin Robinson has announced his plans to emigrate. Robinson’s decision to leave the country may be influenced by the current political climate and regulatory challenges faced by social media platforms like X in Brazil.
