Justice Alexandre de Moraes Takes Action Against Elon Musk's X in Brazil
Immediate Suspension Mandated by Justice Alexandre de Moraes
On Friday, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a member of Brazil's Supreme Court, mandated the immediate suspension of X (formerly known as Twitter) within the country. This decision follows the expiration of a court-imposed deadline requiring the platform to appoint a legal representative in Brazil.
Details of the Court Order
- Moraes ordered X to comply with local regulations, including the appointment of a legal representative.
- The platform faces fines totaling 18.5 million reais (approximately US$3.28 million) for non-compliance.
- Telecommunications regulator Anatel is tasked with enforcing the suspension within 24 hours.
Furthermore, users attempting to bypass the suspension using VPNs may incur daily fines up to 50,000 reais.
Background on the Ongoing Conflict
This latest development marks a heightened clash between Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Elon Musk, who has previously criticized Brazilian authorities for what he regards as censorship. Earlier this year, Moraes also ordered the blocking of specific X accounts tied to investigations into misinformation and online hate.
In parallel, the Brazilian Supreme Court has initiated measures against Starlink, Musk's satellite internet entity, freezing its local bank accounts. Starlink has since sought a court ruling suspending these actions.
As the situation evolves, the implications of this ruling could significantly affect both X's operations and Musk's broader business interests in Brazil.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.