Brazilian Supreme Court has ordered the immediate suspension of Elon Musk’s X platform within the country. The ban comes in response to ongoing allegations of the platform’s failure to effectively combat the spread of disinformation. Moreover, the platform faces hefty fines if it does not comply with the court’s orders.
Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, has been banned in Brazil after failing to comply with a Supreme Court order. The platform missed a deadline to appoint a new legal representative in the country. This incompetence led Judge Alexandre de Moraes to order its immediate suspension.
The conflict started in April when the judge ordered the suspension of several X accounts accused of spreading disinformation. Many of these accounts were linked to supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro. In addition, Judge Moraes warned that the company’s legal representatives would be held responsible if these accounts were reactivated.
In response, X’s owner, Elon Musk, criticized the judge, stating that “free speech is the foundation of democracy“. Moreover. he also accused the judge of acting for political and personal reasons. Musk argued that the orders violated Brazil’s own laws, and X announced it would not comply.
As a result, Brazil’s telecommunications agency has been instructed to suspend the platform. Companies like Apple and Google have been given five days to remove X from their app stores and block its use on iOS and Android devices. Users trying to access the platform through VPNs could face fines of around R$50,000 (£6,700).
This is not the first time social media companies have faced pressure in Brazil. In the past, Telegram was banned for failing to block certain profiles, and WhatsApp faced temporary bans for refusing to share user data with authorities.
Musk’s satellite internet firm, Starlink, has also been affected. The Brazilian Supreme Court froze its bank accounts, leading Starlink to protest the decision, claiming it was unfairly held responsible for fines against X.
The situation highlights the ongoing tension between tech companies and government authorities in Brazil, with implications for freedom of speech and the regulation of online platforms.
