Brazil's telecommunications regulator has moved to suspend access to Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, after the company failed to meet a court-imposed deadline to appoint a legal representative in the country.
The suspension comes as part of a broader legal clash between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has been pushing for stronger regulations against hate speech on social media.
The dispute escalated on Thursday evening when X missed the deadline, triggering an order from Moraes for the platform to be blocked until it complies with various court mandates, including the payment of over USD 3 million in fines.
The judge's ruling has been backed by the majority of Brazil's 11-member Supreme Court, reinforcing the court's commitment to holding social media platforms accountable for their role in the spread of misinformation and hate speech.
As part of the suspension, Brazilian telecommunications companies are required to block access to X and prevent users from bypassing the ban using virtual private networks (VPNs). Those found evading the block through VPNs could face fines of up to 50,000 reais (USD 9,000) per day. Initially, tech giants Apple and Google were also ordered to remove X from their app stores and implement anti-VPN measures, but Moraes later reversed that decision, deeming it unnecessary for the time being.
Musk, who owns X and a significant share of the satellite internet provider Starlink, has criticised the court's actions, labeling them as unjustified censorship. He has described Moraes as a "dictator" and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as the judge's "lapdog."
Despite the legal battles, Musk has vowed to keep Starlink operational in Brazil, offering free service to the military and others until the issue is resolved. However, Starlink's bank accounts in Brazil were frozen earlier this week as part of the ongoing dispute.
President Lula responded to the controversy by affirming that all businesses, regardless of their size or ownership, must adhere to Brazilian law. He dismissed Musk's criticism, mentioning that wealth does not grant immunity from legal obligations. Meanwhile, Justice Moraes, showing no signs of backing down, reiterated the importance of holding accountable those who violate democratic principles and fundamental human rights, whether in person or via social media.
The unfolding conflict poses significant risks for X, which stands to lose access to one of its largest markets at a time when Musk is already grappling with declining advertising revenues for the platform. As the situation develops, the tension between Musk and Brazil's judiciary highlights the growing global debate over the responsibilities of social media platforms in regulating content and protecting free speech.
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