Top Brazilian judge orders suspension of X platform in Brazil amid feud with Musk
CTV
A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media giant X in Brazil after the tech billionaire refused to name a legal representative in the country, according to a copy of his decision.
A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media giant X in Brazil after the tech billionaire refused to name a legal representative in the country, according to a copy of his decision.
The move further escalates the monthslong feud between the two men over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes had warned Musk on Wednesday night that X could be blocked in Brazil if he failed to comply with his order to name a representative, and established a 24-hour deadline. The company hasn’t had a representative in the country since earlier this month.
“Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country,” de Moraes wrote in his decision.
The justice said the platform will stay suspended until it complies with his orders, and also set a daily fine of 50,000 reais (US$8,900) for people or companies using VPNs to access it.
In a later ruling, he backtracked on his initial decision to establish a five-day deadline for internet service providers themselves — and not just the telecommunications regulator — to block access to X, as well as his directive for app stores to remove virtual private networks, or VPNs.
Brazil's telecommunications regulator Anatel has 24 hours to comply. The regulator's chairman Carlos Baigorri told GloboNews channel that the country's biggest service providers will respond quickly, but added smaller ones might need more time to suspend X from their services.
