The platform X was suspended in Brazil after failing to meet the deadline for appointing a new legal representative in the country.
Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the “immediate and total suspension” of the social network, further intensifying the ongoing confrontation between Elon Musk, the owner of X, and the magistrate.
Brazil’s Supreme Court issued a 24-hour ultimatum to ban certain accounts over fears of spreading misinformation. As part of the measures taken against the platform, formerly known as Twitter, the court warned that users who use a VPN to access X could face daily fines of 50,000 reais (8,900 USD). However, it is unclear how this measure will be enforced.
In response to this decision, Musk stated on his account that “freedom of speech is fundamental to democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.”
Musk escalated his confrontation with De Moraes, promising to reveal “the extensive list of his crimes, along with the specific Brazilian laws he has violated.” Musk also stated that “he is a dictator and a fraud, not a judge.”
Many of the accounts targeted by De Moraes’ order expressed support for right-wing former President Jair Bolsonaro, and the judge insisted that they be shut down while under investigation. Musk joined local criticism of De Moraes, accusing him of having a leftist bias.
The actions against X also extend to Apple and Google
The social media platform closed its office in Brazil earlier this month, labeling the orders as “censorship” and illegal under Brazilian law.
In Brazil, it is estimated that about 10% of the South American country’s 210 million inhabitants use X.
The action against X has led to warnings for Apple and Google, giving them a five-day deadline to remove the platform from their app stores and block its access on iOS and Android systems.
This is not the only issue Musk is facing in Brazil, as the bank accounts of his satellite internet company, Starlink, have been frozen in connection with the repercussions of X. The company responded to this action with a post on the platform, stating that the “order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be held responsible for the unconstitutionally imposed fines against X.”
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director
Image Credits: Creator: Kim Shiflett / zumapress.co / CC0 1.0 / CC0 1.0 Universal