Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered a country-wide suspension of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, due to non-compliance with judicial orders. The ruling stems from X’s refusal to appoint a legal representative in Brazil and follow directives to block accounts spreading misinformation. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the judge presiding over the case, has also imposed a daily fine of $9,000 for users attempting to bypass the ban via VPNs.
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. These enemies include a duly elected Senator and a 16-year-old girl, among others.
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) August 29, 2024
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The legal battle began after X’s owner, Elon Musk, reactivated accounts that had been previously blocked by court orders for allegedly spreading false information during Brazil's 2022 elections. Moraes has been pressuring X to comply with Brazilian laws, specifically regarding the platform’s role in moderating harmful content. X’s failure to appoint a representative and comply with these demands led to the current suspension and further penalties.
The court’s actions also extended to freezing the accounts of SpaceX’s Starlink, another company owned by Musk, in an effort to settle X’s unpaid fines.
Kay Lee
Despite the court orders, X remains defiant, with the company announcing plans to publish the court’s demands and continue its legal challenge. The platform’s suspension will remain in effect until compliance is met.
