X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has been banned in Brazil following a heated confrontation with the country’s Supreme Court. The platform, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, was ordered to be “immediately and completely suspended” by Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes after it failed to comply with a deadline to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil.
The dispute began in April when Judge de Moraes ordered the suspension of numerous X accounts accused of spreading disinformation. Many of these accounts were reportedly linked to supporters of former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. The judge mandated that these accounts be blocked while they were under investigation, and he warned that X’s legal representatives would be held accountable if any of the blocked accounts were reactivated.
Despite the court’s orders, X has resisted compliance, leading to a series of escalating penalties. Judge de Moraes has imposed fines on the platform for its refusal to adhere to the suspension orders and has criticized the company for failing to respect Brazilian law. As the platform continued to defy the court, the judge ultimately ordered its suspension until it meets all court requirements and settles the accumulated fines.
Reacting to the suspension, Musk, who has positioned himself as a champion of free speech, condemned the ruling. He described Judge de Moraes as an “unelected pseudo-judge” who was undermining democracy in Brazil for political purposes. “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and this judge is destroying it,” Musk asserted.
X’s legal troubles in Brazil are the latest in a series of conflicts involving Musk and the social media platform since he took over the company. Earlier this month, X closed its office in Brazil, citing threats of arrest against its legal representative if she failed to comply with the court orders. The company labeled the judge’s actions as “censorship” and claimed that his demands were illegal under Brazilian law.
More Read
Judge de Moraes, however, has remained steadfast in his orders. In addition to suspending X, he has instructed companies such as Apple and Google to remove the platform from their application stores and block its use on iOS and Android devices within five days. The judge also warned that individuals or businesses attempting to access the platform through VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) could face fines of R$50,000 (approximately £6,700).
The situation has sparked significant controversy in Brazil, where X is used by about 10% of the country’s 200 million residents. The platform’s suspension has left many users unable to access their accounts, with reports indicating that the ban had taken effect by Saturday morning.
In a prior statement from one of its official accounts, X expressed its intent to resist the court’s demands. “Soon, we expect Judge Alexandre de Moraes will order X to be shut down in Brazil – simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents,” the company stated. “The fundamental issue at stake here is that Judge de Moraes demands we break Brazil’s own laws. We simply won’t do that.”
As the legal battle between X and Brazil’s judiciary unfolds, the case has garnered international attention, adding to the ongoing debates about the regulation of social media platforms and the balance between free speech and the enforcement of local laws.
