The telecommunications regulator of Brazil announced on Friday that access to Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, would be suspended in compliance with a judicial order linked to an ongoing dispute between the billionaire and a Supreme Court Justice.
The suspension followed X’s failure to comply with a court mandate by missing a deadline to appoint a legal representative in Brazil. This action has escalated tensions in a long-standing conflict between Musk and Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Musk has claimed that Justice Moraes is engaging in unwarranted censorship, while the judge maintains that there is a need for regulations to combat hate speech on social media platforms.
“They’re shutting down the #1 source of truth in Brazil,” Musk declared in a post on X Friday.
This ruling might force X to forfeit access to one of its largest markets at a time when Musk’s platform is already grappling with declining advertising revenue.
As of late Friday, X was still accessible in Brazil, although several users reported restricted access on alternative platforms. Local news source UOL indicated that three major telecom companies were prepared to begin blocking access starting at midnight (0300 GMT on Saturday).
This legal clash recently led to the freezing of Starlink’s bank accounts in Brazil. Starlink operates under Musk’s SpaceX and offers satellite internet services.
In his ruling, Moraes mandated that X, previously known as Twitter, would be suspended until it adhered to related court orders, which included the payment of fines exceeding $3 million and appointing a local representative in accordance with Brazilian regulations.
Moraes directed Anatel, the telecommunications regulatory agency, to enforce the suspension, and the agency confirmed to Reuters that it is proceeding with compliance, but did not provide a specific timeline.
For the suspension to take effect, telecom providers must cease transmitting traffic from X and prevent users from using virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent restrictions. Moraes has declared that individuals accessing X through VPNs could face fines of up to 50,000 reais ($9,000) each day.
Initially, major tech firms Apple and Google were instructed to remove X from their app stores and implement measures against VPN usage that would complicate access to the platform on their operating systems. However, Moraes later retracted this part of his order.
Representatives from Apple and Google did not provide comments on the situation.
Judicial Authority and Legal Compliance
Brazil’s Supreme Court Justices possess significant authority to make unilateral decisions, and in the current dispute, Moraes has garnered support from a majority of the court, including Chief Justice Roberto Barroso.
Besides his stake in X and 40% ownership of SpaceX, Musk is also the CEO of Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer.
The controversy surrounding X stems from a ruling earlier this year by Moraes, which required the platform to block accounts tied to allegations of disseminating false news and hate speech.
Musk criticized the order, perceiving it as a form of censorship. In response, he shut down X’s local offices while ensuring the platform remained operational in Brazil.
He has vowed that Starlink will continue to provide free service to Brazilians, including military users, until the situation is resolved.
Earlier on Friday, Starlink petitioned the Supreme Court to lift the freeze on its bank accounts, asserting compliance with all judicial directives, but this request was rejected that evening.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva asserted that all entities operating in the country must comply with legal requirements, stating, “Just because a guy has a lot of money doesn’t mean he can disrespect” the law during a local radio broadcast on Friday.
Musk characterized the president as Moraes’ “lapdog” in a post made on Thursday, where he referred to the judge as a “dictator.”
Justice Moraes, speaking at an event on Friday, showed no inclination to relent, stating, “Those who violate democracy, who violate fundamental human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable.”
© Thomson Reuters 2024
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
