A Brazilian judge has ordered the suspension of X (formerly Twitter) due to Elon Musk’s failure to designate a new legal representative for the platform in Brazil. The decision, issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, directs the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to restrict access to X within 24 hours and mandates that Apple and Google remove the app from their stores within five days. Additionally, those attempting to access X through a VPN will face daily fines of approximately $8,900 USD.
This ruling follows a dispute between Musk and de Moraes, which began after Musk closed X’s Brazilian offices. De Moraes had threatened arrest for X’s legal representative, citing non-compliance with censorship orders. The judge’s investigation into X started after Musk allegedly reactivated accounts previously ordered to be blocked for spreading misinformation. Many of these accounts were linked to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
In response, Musk criticized the ruling as an attack on free speech and claimed that de Moraes’s demands are politically motivated. X has announced its intention to publish all related court filings and de Moraes’s demands, asserting that it will not comply with what it views as illegal requests.
Brazil’s legal requirements stipulate that major social media platforms must have a legal representative in the country. Previous temporary bans have affected other major platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. The ruling also impacts Starlink, Musk’s other company, which reported that its finances were frozen as a result of the dispute, an action it deems unconstitutional.
