In a significant development for social media regulation, Brazil’s Supreme Court has mandated the suspension of X (formerly Twitter) operations within the country. This decision follows the platform’s failure to comply with a court order to appoint a legal representative in Brazil. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has had ongoing conflicts with Elon Musk since April, issued the directive for an “immediate, complete and total suspension” of X’s services. The National Telecommunications Agency has been given 24 hours to enforce this ruling, which will require over 20,000 broadband providers to block access to the platform.
The roots of this conflict trace back to April when Justice de Moraes ordered the suspension of several X accounts accused of spreading disinformation. Musk opposed this action, labeling it as censorship. Tensions escalated when X announced the closure of its Brazilian operations on August 17, citing “censorship orders” from the court. Financially, the implications are significant, with the court already imposing fines totaling R$18.3 million (£2.5 million) on X for non-compliance.
In a surprising move, the court also froze the Brazilian bank accounts of Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet provider, despite it being a separate entity from X. This legal battle has faced criticism, with legal experts questioning the decision to target Starlink, arguing it should not be held accountable for X’s actions. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has supported the court’s stance, emphasizing that all companies operating in Brazil must follow national laws.
Initially, the suspension order included directives for Apple and Google to implement technological barriers to prevent the use of the X app on iOS and Android systems, but this aspect was later retracted pending further statements from the involved parties. As the situation unfolds, it raises critical questions about the balance between freedom of expression, national sovereignty, and the responsibilities of global tech companies operating in diverse jurisdictions. The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for how social media platforms navigate complex legal landscapes in different countries.
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