A Brazilian judge has ordered the immediate suspension of the social media platform X in the country after the company failed to identify a legal representative in Brazil. The decision was part of an ongoing feud between Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Elon Musk, which also led to the freezing of the financial accounts of Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink in Brazil. Moraes ordered the suspension of X until all related court orders, including the payment of fines and the nomination of a legal representative, were complied with. He also instructed telecomunications regulator Anatel to implement the suspension order. Individuals or companies attempting to circumvent the blockage using VPNs could face fines. X had expected the shutdown after missing the deadline to identify a legal representative. Moraes had previously ordered X to block certain accounts involved in spreading distorted news and hate. Musk criticized the censorship and responded by closing X’s offices in Brazil, although services were still available in the country. The court also blocked Starlink’s local bank accounts, prompting the company to request the suspension of that decision. The feud between Moraes and Musk continues to escalate, raising concerns about freedom of speech and online censorship in Brazil.
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Brazilian Judge Temporarily Halts Operations of Elon Musk’s X Platform
