Brazil’s telecommunications regulator announced on Friday that it would be suspending access to Elon Musk’s social network, X, following a judge’s order amid an ongoing conflict with the billionaire. The social media platform failed to meet a court deadline on Thursday to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, leading to the suspension.
Musk has criticized Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, accusing him of imposing unjust censorship, while Moraes has emphasized the need for regulations to control hate speech on social media.
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“They’re shutting down the #1 source of truth in Brazil,” Musk posted on X on Friday.
The ruling could lead to X losing one of its largest and most valuable markets, particularly as Musk grapples with declining advertising revenue for the platform.
Although X remained accessible in Brazil late on Friday, some users reported being blocked from the site. Three of the country’s largest telecommunications carriers were set to begin blocking access from midnight (0300 GMT on Saturday), as reported by local news outlet UOL.
The dispute also led to the freezing of the bank accounts of Starlink, a satellite internet provider owned by Musk’s SpaceX, in Brazil this week.
Moraes’ ruling mandates that X, formerly known as Twitter, be suspended in Brazil until it complies with all court orders, including the payment of over $3 million in fines and the appointment of a local representative as required by Brazilian law. The telecommunications regulator, Anatel, has been instructed to enforce the suspension order.
Anatel confirmed to Reuters that it is working on compliance but did not specify a timeline.
To effectively block X in Brazil, telecommunications companies must stop carrying the platform’s traffic and prevent users from accessing it by masking their locations with VPNs.
Moraes also imposed fines of up to 50,000 reais ($9,000) per day for those who continue to access X via VPNs.
Initially, tech giants Apple and Google’s parent company, Alphabet, were ordered to remove X from their app stores and implement measures to make it harder for users of iOS and Android devices to access the X app. However, Moraes later reversed this part of the order, stating it was unnecessary.
Apple and Google declined to comment on the situation.
Lapdogs and Dictators?
In Brazil, unlike many other countries, Supreme Court judges have the authority to make unilateral decisions with extensive powers. However, in the case involving X, Justice Moraes has received support from the majority of the 11-member court, including Chief Justice Roberto Barroso.
Musk, who owns X and holds a 40% stake in SpaceX, also serves as the CEO of Tesla, the electric vehicle giant.
The conflict over X originated from a directive issued by Moraes earlier this year, which required the platform to block accounts involved in investigations related to the spread of misleading information and hate speech.
Musk condemned the directive as censorship and responded by shutting down X’s offices in Brazil, although the platform continued to be accessible in the country.
He also stated that Starlink would continue providing free services to Brazilians, including the military, until the issue is resolved.
Earlier on Friday, Starlink appealed to the Supreme Court to lift the decision to freeze its local bank accounts, arguing that it had complied with all judicial orders. However, this request was denied later that evening.
When asked for his thoughts, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized that all companies operating in the country must adhere to their legal responsibilities.
“Just because someone is wealthy doesn’t mean they can disregard the law,” the leftist leader stated during a radio interview on Friday.
Musk mocked the president, calling him Moraes’ “lapdog” in a Thursday post, where he also referred to the judge as a “dictator.”
At an event on Friday, Moraes remained firm in his stance.
“Those who undermine democracy and violate fundamental human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable,” he declared.
