Brazil has officially banned X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, after it failed to comply with a legal deadline set by the country’s Supreme Court. The court, led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, ordered the “immediate and complete suspension” of the platform due to its failure to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil and its ongoing non-compliance with court orders, including unpaid fines.
The dispute between X and the Brazilian judiciary began in April when Justice de Moraes demanded that several accounts on the platform be suspended for allegedly spreading disinformation. These accounts were linked to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Elon Musk, the owner of X, criticized the decision, calling it censorship and accusing the judge of using his authority for political reasons.
Justice de Moraes has been firm in his insistence that X follow Brazilian law by blocking accounts under investigation and appointing a local legal representative. After the platform failed to meet these requirements, the court imposed daily fines and eventually ordered the platform’s suspension in Brazil.
By Saturday morning, users in Brazil began reporting issues accessing X, indicating that the ban was taking effect. The platform, which had around 40 million users in Brazil, has been removed from app stores and blocked on iOS and Android systems. Justice de Moraes also warned that anyone attempting to access X using virtual private networks (VPNs) could face financial penalties.
Earlier this month, X closed its office in Brazil, citing “censorship” and legal threats against its representatives as reasons for halting operations in the country. Despite these claims, the Supreme Court proceeded with its actions, resulting in the platform’s suspension.
In response to the ban, Elon Musk criticized the Brazilian government and judiciary, arguing that the suspension was an attempt to stifle free speech. He claimed that the ban would deprive millions of Brazilians of a key platform for communication and access to information. However, Brazilian authorities, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, maintained that all companies operating in Brazil must adhere to the country’s laws and respect judicial rulings.
The ban on X in Brazil adds to a series of disputes between Elon Musk and various global regulatory bodies. Musk has previously clashed with the European Union over content regulations on X and has engaged in public disagreements with other global leaders.
In a related issue, the bank accounts of Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, were frozen by the Brazilian Supreme Court. This action is connected to the ongoing investigation into X’s refusal to comply with court orders. Starlink, which provides internet services in the Amazon region, has continued to offer its services while challenging the court’s decision.
The conflict between X and Brazilian authorities is ongoing, and the situation remains fluid. For now, X has been removed from Brazil’s digital landscape, affecting millions of users and raising questions about the regulation of social media in the country.
Image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license and was created by Ministério Das Comunicações.
