Brazil’s Supreme Court issued a nationwide suspension of Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday. The order came after the company refused to comply with earlier court mandates related to content moderation and the appointment of a legal representative within the country.
The suspension, issued by top judge Alexandre de Moraes, will remain in effect until X adheres to the court’s demands and pays any fines imposed. Additionally, the court ordered daily penalties for individuals or businesses attempting to access X using virtual private networks (VPNs) or other methods during the suspension.
The court’s statement emphasized the suspension’s immediate and complete enforcement across Brazil until X complies with the judicial orders. Initially, the court had also instructed companies like Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores and cease offering VPN apps that could be used to access the platform. However, a subsequent order temporarily halted these measures, allowing time for X to comply with the court’s demands.
The conflict between Brazil’s judiciary and Musk’s platform escalated after X failed to appoint a legal representative by the court’s deadline. In a statement on Thursday, X’s global government affairs unit indicated that it anticipated the shutdown because the company would not comply with the court’s orders.
Brazil, a significant non-NATO ally of the U.S., is gearing up for municipal elections in October. Under Brazilian law, social media companies must appoint a representative to manage government takedown requests, particularly those related to political misinformation and incitement to violence. X has resisted this requirement, stating that it would rather remove its employees from Brazil than risk legal repercussions for non-compliance.
The suspension of X in Brazil, which has over 171 million active social media users, could pose substantial business challenges for Musk’s company. Since acquiring Twitter in late 2022 for $44 billion, Musk has implemented major changes, including reinstating previously banned accounts, which led to significant advertiser withdrawals.
Musk’s relationship with Brazil’s judiciary has been contentious, particularly after the court froze the finances of Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet service, in response to X’s legal violations. Musk has been vocal in his criticism of de Moraes and the court’s actions, likening them to censorship.
In a post on X following the suspension, Musk criticized the Brazilian government, claiming they were attempting to bankrupt anyone who tried to expose the truth. The future of X in Brazil remains uncertain as the legal battle continues.
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