In a dramatic development, X—formerly known as Twitter—has been banned in Brazil due to its failure to comply with a Supreme Court mandate. Judge Alexandre de Moraes has ordered the « immediate and complete suspension » of the platform after X missed a critical deadline to appoint a new legal representative in the country.
The controversy began in April when Judge de Moraes issued a suspension order for several X accounts accused of disseminating disinformation. The judge’s latest ruling demands that X adhere to all court directives and settle outstanding fines before it can resume operations in Brazil.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, has criticized the ruling, asserting that « free speech is the bedrock of democracy, » and accused the judge of undermining it for political motives. Musk’s reaction highlights a growing conflict between X and Brazilian authorities, with Musk and X alleging that the court’s actions are driven by political bias.
As of Saturday morning, many users reported difficulties accessing the platform. Earlier this month, X shut down its office in Brazil, citing threats of arrest against its local representative for non-compliance with what it deems « censorship » and unlawful under Brazilian law.
Judge de Moraes had previously mandated the blocking of X accounts linked to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who were accused of spreading misinformation. The judge warned that the company’s legal representatives would be held accountable for any reactivation of these accounts.
Judge de Moraes had previously mandated the blocking of X accounts linked to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who were accused of spreading misinformation. The judge warned that the company’s legal representatives would be held accountable for any reactivation of these accounts.
The Supreme Court’s recent actions include instructing tech giants like Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores and block its use on iOS and Android platforms within five days. Violations, including the use of VPNs to access the platform, could result in fines of up to R$50,000 (£6,700).
X has firmly stated its refusal to comply with these orders. A recent statement from the platform criticized Judge de Moraes, suggesting that the legal demands are intended to suppress political dissent rather than uphold Brazilian law.
Additionally, the financial strain on Musk’s ventures extends beyond X. The bank accounts of Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, have been frozen in Brazil following a previous Supreme Court decision. Starlink’s response on X challenged the legitimacy of this measure, asserting that it is based on unjustified claims.
Judge de Moraes, known for his strict stance on social media regulation in Brazil, is also overseeing an investigation into Bolsonaro and his supporters related to an alleged attempted coup on January 8 of last year.
X’s troubles echo previous instances of social media platforms facing regulatory pressure in Brazil. Telegram experienced a temporary ban in 2022 over compliance issues, while Meta’s WhatsApp faced similar restrictions in 2015 and 2016 for failing to meet data requests.
