Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered the suspension of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, after its owner, Elon Musk, failed to appoint a legal representative in the country. The ongoing dispute between Musk and Brazilian authorities has reached a new peak, with the platform facing imminent shutdown and significant penalties.
Feud Between Musk and Judge Moraes
The conflict between Musk and Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has been escalating since April when Moraes ordered X to block several accounts accused of spreading disinformation and hate speech. Musk, denouncing the order as censorship, retaliated by closing X’s operations in Brazil and firing its local staff. Despite these actions, the platform has continued to be accessible in Brazil.
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Justice Moraes, known for his firm stance against misinformation, has repeatedly called for tighter regulations on social media to prevent the spread of false information and hate speech. The legal standoff intensified last week when Musk refused to comply with the Brazilian law requiring social media platforms to have a legal representative in the country.
Court Orders and Legal Actions
On Friday, Moraes issued a direct order for the “immediate, complete, and total suspension of X’s operations in Brazil,” unless the company complies with all court orders, pays outstanding fines, and appoints a new legal representative. The National Telecommunications Agency was given 24 hours to enforce this decision by notifying over 20,000 broadband providers in Brazil to block access to X.
Initially, Moraes also directed Apple and Google to prevent the use of the X app on their devices and block virtual private network (VPN) applications. However, he later revoked this part of the order to avoid potential disruptions to the tech giants’ operations, pending further statements from Musk and X.
President Lula’s Call for Compliance
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has weighed in on the controversy, emphasizing the importance of adhering to local laws. “Each and every citizen from any part of the world that has an investment in Brazil is subject to the Brazilian constitution and Brazilian laws,” Lula said during a local radio interview. Criticizing Musk, he added, “Just because a guy has a lot of money doesn’t mean he can disrespect the law.”
Musk, in response, posted on X accusing Brazil of shutting down “the #1 source of truth” and referred to the country’s government as an “oppressive regime” fearful of people “learning the truth.”
Impact on Starlink and Future Steps
The legal fallout extends beyond X. The Supreme Court has also frozen the local bank accounts of Starlink, the satellite internet company owned 40% by Musk, to enforce fines imposed on X. Musk has vowed to continue providing free internet services through Starlink to Brazilians, particularly in remote areas that depend on the service.
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Legal experts have criticized the decision to target Starlink, arguing that it is a separate entity and should not be held accountable for actions related to X. Starlink has filed a request with the Supreme Court to have the decision reversed or to limit the freeze to the total of the fines against X.