The social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, has been banned in Brazil after failing to meet a deadline set by a Supreme Court judge to appoint a new legal representative in the country.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the “immediate and complete suspension” of the social media platform until it complies with all court orders and pays existing fines.
The dispute began in April when the judge ordered the suspension of dozens of X accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation.
Many of these accounts were linked to supporters of former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro. Justice Moraes stated that X’s legal representatives would be held responsible if any suspended accounts were reactivated.
Reacting to the ban, X owner Elon Musk said, “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.”
By Saturday morning, some users reported that access to X was no longer possible.
The platform, used by about 10% of Brazil’s 200 million people, had earlier closed its office in the country, claiming its representative was threatened with arrest for not complying with orders it described as “censorship” and illegal under Brazilian law.
Justice Moraes has instructed companies like Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores and block its use on iOS and Android devices within five days. He also warned that individuals or businesses using VPNs (virtual private networks) to access X could face fines of R$50,000 (£6,700).
Musk and his company have accused Justice Moraes of being left-wing, joining critics in Brazil who see the judge’s actions as politically motivated. X stated from one of its official accounts, “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.”
Justice Moraes is also investigating former president Bolsonaro and his supporters for their alleged roles in an attempted coup on January 8 last year.
His actions have previously led to restrictions on other social media platforms in Brazil. Last year, Telegram faced a temporary ban for not blocking certain profiles, and Meta’s messaging service WhatsApp also faced temporary bans in 2015 and 2016 for refusing police requests for user data.
Meanwhile, the bank accounts of Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink have been frozen in Brazil following an earlier order by the Supreme Court. Starlink responded with a post on X stating, “The order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied – unconstitutionally – against X.”
The head of Brazil’s telecommunications agency, which is responsible for suspending X, stated that they are “proceeding with the compliance” to enforce the ban, according to Reuters.
The ban will remain in place until X names a new legal representative in Brazil and pays fines for violating local laws.
