Brazil’s telecommunications authority announced on Friday that it would suspend access to Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, to comply with a court order. This decision follows a months-long legal battle between Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The dispute escalated after X failed to meet a court-imposed deadline to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, leading to the suspension order. Musk criticized Justice Moraes, accusing him of enforcing censorship, while the judge maintained the need for regulating hate speech on social media.
“They’re shutting down the #1 source of truth in Brazil,” Musk posted on X Friday.
The ruling threatens X’s presence in one of its largest markets, at a time when Musk is grappling with challenges related to advertising revenue on the platform. Although X was still accessible in Brazil on Friday evening, some users reported being blocked. Several major telecommunications companies indicated they would begin blocking access from midnight.
The conflict also affected Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet company, which had its bank accounts in Brazil frozen earlier in the week. Moraes ordered the suspension of X until all court orders were fulfilled, including paying over $3 million in fines and designating a local representative, as required by Brazilian law.
Anatel, Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, confirmed it was moving forward with the suspension order but did not specify when it would be fully implemented.
To enforce the shutdown, telecommunications companies will need to block X’s network traffic and prevent users from accessing the site via VPNs. Moraes stipulated fines of up to 50,000 reais ($9,000) per day for those who bypass the block using VPNs.
Initially, tech giants Apple and Google were instructed to remove X from their app stores and implement measures to block VPN access, but Moraes later reversed this part of the order.
In Brazil, Supreme Court judges have significant authority to make unilateral decisions, and Moraes has the backing of a majority of the 11-member court, including Chief Justice Roberto Barroso.
The dispute traces back to an earlier order by Moraes requiring X to block accounts involved in spreading misinformation and hate speech. Musk denounced the order as censorship, closed X’s offices in Brazil, but kept the platform operational in the country. He also pledged to continue offering Starlink services for free to Brazilians, including the military, until the matter is resolved.
On Friday, Starlink requested the Supreme Court to lift the freeze on its local bank accounts, arguing compliance with all judicial orders. However, the request was denied.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized that all businesses must follow the law, regardless of their owner’s wealth. “Just because a guy has a lot of money doesn’t mean he can disrespect the law,” he said on Friday.
Musk responded by calling Lula a “lapdog” of Moraes and referred to the judge as a “dictator.”
Justice Moraes, undeterred, reiterated his stance at an event on Friday, stating, “Those who violate democracy, who violate fundamental human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable.”
($1 = 5.6121 reais)
(Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu, Ricardo Brito, and Luana Maria Benedito; Additional reporting by Andre Romani; Writing by David Alire Garcia; Editing by Gabriel Araujo, Christian Plumb, Matthew Lewis, Rosalba O’Brien, and William Mallard)
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