Brazil Blocks X After Musk Defies Court Order
Brazilian authorities have blocked access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, after its owner, Elon Musk, refused to comply with a Supreme Court order to suspend certain accounts.
According to New York Times, the order to block the platform was issued by Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of Brazil’s Supreme Court, who cited X’s failure to appoint a required legal representative in the country.
The dispute escalated after Musk closed Xโs office in Brazil following threats of arrest by Justice Moraes for not complying with previous orders to remove specific accounts that allegedly violated Brazilian laws.
Musk responded to the order by criticizing it as unlawful, stating that free speech is fundamental to democracy and accusing the judge of political motives. In an online post, Musk referred to Justice Moraes as an “unelected pseudo-judge” who is undermining democracy.
Justice Moraes, however, defended his actions, accusing Musk of facilitating the spread of disinformation, hate speech, and attacks on Brazil’s democratic institutions.
He warned that anyone attempting to access X in Brazil using virtual private networks (VPNs) could face daily fines of nearly $9,000.
This legal battle is a key test of Musk’s commitment to free speech on X, as he has repeatedly resisted content removal orders in various countries.
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However, the blocking of X in Brazil, a major market with over 25 million downloads since 2022, presents a formidable challenge to his approach, potentially impacting the platform’s revenue, market share, and influence.
Justice Moraes has become one of Brazilโs most powerful and controversial figures, particularly in his efforts to combat online threats to democracy. He has ordered the removal of numerous accounts, primarily right-wing, and has been a central figure in investigations into former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters.
