Brazil's Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the immediate suspension of Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in the country for failing to comply with legal orders, including blocking accounts accused of spreading misinformation, paying fines, and appointing a legal representative.
Anatel, Brazil's telecommunication regulator, and three top telecommunications carriers in Brazil have begun blocking access to the platform in compliance with the court order, leaving millions of users without access.
Justice de Moraes accused Musk of showing disrespect and acting as a supranational entity, while Musk criticized the decision, stating it threatens free speech and democracy, and called de Moraes an "evil dictator" for the suspension.
Justice Moraes also froze the financial accounts of Starlink, Elon Musk's satellite internet provider in Brazil, as part of an ongoing feud between them over the dissemination of fake news.
Brazil is a significant market for X, with tens of millions of users. The shutdown led to difficulties using other social media platforms and a surge in sign-ups for alternative platforms like Bluesky.
The ban drew criticism from various individuals and groups, including Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who called it unacceptable proof of totalitarianism and a dictatorship without freedom of expression.
Brazilian President Lula defended the court order, saying Musk must respect the rulings and follow Brazilian laws.
A legal advocacy group, ADF International, submitted a petition to oppose the censorship of X in Brazil to the Inter American Commission on Human Rights, stating that the targeting of dissenting voices like Elon Musk is indicative of a larger issue in Brazil where many citizens are afraid to share their views publicly.
The suspension of X and the fines imposed by Justice de Moraes drew criticism from the Brazilian Bar Association, politicians, and former President Jair Bolsonaro, who condemned the ban as a blow to freedom and legal security.
To access X in Brazil, users need a VPN to bypass the ban, but the Brazilian Supreme Court imposed fines against users accessing X via VPN after the ban. X announced the shutdown of operations in Brazil after threats of fines for users circumventing the ban with VPNs.
Musk announced that Starlink would continue providing free services in Brazil and maintain support for the Brazilian military despite frozen bank accounts, as disruption could negatively impact military operations.
The crypto community, including investors and analysts, questioned the need for a decentralized global monetary asset and expressed disappointment over the ban on X in Brazil.
Brazil has a history of judicial actions against tech companies like WhatsApp and Telegram for non-compliance.
France indicted Telegram CEO Pavel Durov on charges related to alleged illegal activities and misinformation on the platform, with some concerns over potential overreach, as governments take stronger actions against social media companies.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: AP News, Bloomberg, Axios, Washington Post, Time, BBC, DW, TechCrunch, TechRadar, Al Jazeera, Indian Express, France 24, RealClearPolitics, Economic Times, India TV News, Black Star News, Teslarati.