Brazilian Supreme Court Judge orders blocking X platform in Brazil
A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Friday ordered the blocking of the X platform in Brazil within 24 hours, after a long standoff with the social network that has angered its owner Elon Musk.
“Freedom of expression is the foundation of democracy, and in Brazil, an unelected, phony judge is destroying it for political reasons,” Musk wrote on X.
This is the latest episode in the battle between Alexandre de Moraes, a judge on the Supreme Federal Court and an anti-disinformation activist in Brazil, and the US billionaire.
The decision comes about a month before municipal elections that will measure the balance of power between the camp of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the right, which defends Musk.
Judge Moraes gave the platform 24 hours on Wednesday evening to appoint a legal representative in the country, or face blocking.
X has 22 million users, according to estimates by the specialized website Data Reportal.
After the social network rejected the ultimatum, it was decided to immediately and completely suspend the operation of X Brasil Internet LTDA in the national territory, according to the judge’s decision.
The judge ordered the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to adopt all necessary measures so that the suspension would take effect within 24 hours in Latin America’s largest country.
It also asked tech giants Google and Apple, as well as internet service providers, to put in place technological barriers capable of preventing the use of the X application and access to its website.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes has threatened to impose fines of 50,000 riyals ($8,000) per day on people who resort to technological tricks to circumvent the blocking, such as using virtual private networks (VPNs).
He denounced X’s attempt to evade the Brazilian legal system and the judiciary, to create a climate of total impunity and ‘chaos’ on Brazilian social networks, including during the 2024 municipal elections.
The blocking will remain in effect until the platform complies, pays the fines imposed on it, and appoints a legal representative.
