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Brazil’s Ban on Elon Musk’s X Platform Goes Into Effect

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Supreme Court Ruling Shuts Down X in Brazil

Early Saturday, the block on Elon Musk’s X, formerly Twitter, began taking effect in Brazil. This move follows a ruling by Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who ordered the suspension of the platform amid an ongoing dispute over disinformation in the country.

Background to the Block

The suspension stems from Musk’s failure to comply with a directive to appoint a new legal representative for X. Judge Moraes, leading a crackdown on misinformation in Brazil, issued the suspension order on Friday. By early Saturday, some Brazilian users were unable to access X, encountering messages prompting them to reload the browser without success.

Musk’s Response

Musk, who also heads Tesla and SpaceX, responded angrily to the ruling, calling Judge Moraes an “evil dictator cosplaying as a judge” and accusing him of undermining democracy in Brazil. Musk, a prominent supporter of free speech and right-wing politics, criticized the judge’s actions as politically motivated.

Enforcement and Technical Challenges

Moraes ordered the “immediate, complete, and comprehensive suspension” of X in Brazil, directing the national communications agency to enforce the block within 24 hours. He initially threatened a fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) for using workarounds like VPNs to bypass the block. The judge also demanded that tech giants Google and Apple, along with internet providers, implement measures to prevent access to X. However, this order was later revised.

X’s Operations and Reactions

X, which boasts over 22 million users in Brazil, had previously ceased its business operations in the country earlier this month. Musk accused Moraes of pressuring X’s former legal representative into compliance with “censorship orders.” Following the expiration of the deadline to appoint a new representative, X claimed that the suspension was a retaliation for not adhering to Moraes’ demands.

The Dispute’s Origins

The conflict between Musk and Moraes began when the judge ordered the suspension of X accounts linked to supporters of Brazil’s former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro’s supporters had been accused of attempting to discredit Brazil’s 2022 election results. Brazilian authorities are investigating whether Bolsonaro plotted a coup to prevent the inauguration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Additional Legal Challenges

In April, Moraes ordered an investigation into Musk, accusing him of reactivating banned accounts. More recently, Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink, reported that Moraes had frozen its accounts, preventing financial transactions in Brazil. Starlink contested this order, claiming it was unjustly held responsible for fines imposed on X.

Broader Implications

President Lula commented on the situation, asserting that foreign investors must adhere to Brazilian laws. This ongoing legal and political battle highlights the broader implications for international companies operating within Brazil’s regulatory framework.

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