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Brazil’s supreme court ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media platform X across the entire country. This decision was made on Friday, August 30, 2024, after Musk’s company defied previous court orders. The orders specifically demanded that X appoint a legal representative in Brazil or face severe consequences. This nationwide suspension marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between Musk and the Brazilian authorities.
The court’s judge, Alexandre de Moraes, led the ruling. His decision came after X refused to comply with the court’s demands regarding content moderation and legal representation. De Moraes made it clear that the social media platform would not be allowed to operate until all judicial decisions were respected. This includes appointing a legal representative in Brazil, a key requirement under the country’s law for any social media company operating within its borders.
On Wednesday, the court issued a warning to X, giving Musk 24 hours to appoint a representative in Brazil. The deadline passed on Thursday evening without any compliance from X. As a result, the nationwide suspension order was activated. This bold move reflects the seriousness of the situation, as Brazil is in a politically sensitive period with municipal elections approaching in October. Under Brazilian law, social media platforms must cooperate with the government in handling political misinformation and content that could incite violence.
Musk’s reaction was one of defiance. X’s global government affairs unit released a statement late Thursday, indicating they were expecting the shutdown order and had no intention of complying with the court’s demands. The refusal to cooperate places X in a precarious situation, as the Brazilian market is substantial. Brazil has over 171 million active social media users, and a suspension there could severely damage Musk’s platform, especially at a time when X is already facing challenges.
The supreme court didn’t just stop at the suspension of the platform. In a statement, de Moraes also imposed daily fines on anyone or any business in Brazil found using virtual private networks (VPNs) or other methods to bypass the suspension and access X. This adds further pressure to individuals and businesses trying to stay connected to the platform during the ban.
Interestingly, after issuing the suspension, the court followed up with a second order a few hours later. This second order temporarily suspended some of the earlier measures, such as the removal of X from app stores like Apple and Google, allowing some time for X to comply with the court’s conditions. However, the core suspension remains in place until a representative is appointed, signaling that the court remains firm in its stance.
The tension between Musk and Brazil has been escalating for some time. Musk, who acquired Twitter (now X) in a $44 billion deal in 2022, has taken controversial steps since then. He restored previously banned accounts and reduced moderation efforts, leading to a sharp decline in advertising revenue. Even the World Bank pulled its ads from X after discovering they were placed near offensive content.
Musk’s issues in Brazil extend beyond X. His satellite internet company, Starlink, has also been caught up in legal troubles. De Moraes’ court froze the finances of Starlink in Brazil, citing unpaid fines related to violations of local laws. Musk, known for his outspoken views, did not take this quietly. He publicly compared Judge de Moraes to Voldemort, a notorious villain from the “Harry Potter” series, in a post on X. Musk has repeatedly accused de Moraes of censorship, claiming that the judge’s actions are an attempt to suppress free speech.
Critics of de Moraes argue that the court is overreaching. This is not the first time that Brazil’s judiciary has suspended social media platforms. Both WhatsApp and Telegram have previously faced suspensions but were later reinstated after meeting legal requirements.
With Brazil’s elections around the corner, the battle between Musk’s company and the Brazilian government is far from over. Social media platforms play a critical role in shaping public opinion, and the outcome of this confrontation could have wide-ranging implications. Musk’s defiance may appeal to some of his supporters, but it also risks alienating users and businesses in one of the largest social media markets in the world.
As of now, X remains suspended in Brazil, and it is unclear how or when the situation will be resolved. Representatives for both X and the U.S. embassy in Brazil have not yet commented on the latest developments. The world watches as Musk navigates yet another legal storm in his ever-controversial tenure as the owner of X.
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