SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) – A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Friday ordered the “immediate suspension” of social media platform x in the country, after a court-imposed deadline for the company to identify a legal representative in Brazil expired.
The move is the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Elon Musk, which also included freezing the financial accounts of satellite internet provider Starlink in Brazil.
In the decision, Moraes ordered x's immediate and total suspension in the country until all court orders related to x were complied with, including the payment of fines of 18.5 million reais ($3.28 million) and the appointment of a legal representative in Brazil.
Moraes ordered telecoms regulator Anatel to implement the suspension order and confirm to the court within 24 hours that it has complied.
In an attempt to prevent the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the block, Moraes said that individuals or companies that try to maintain access to the social network in that way could be fined up to 50,000 reais per day.
x said late Thursday it expected Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes to order the closure “soon,” after a court-imposed deadline for the company to identify a legal representative in Brazil expired.
Earlier this year, Moraes ordered x to block certain accounts implicated in investigations into so-called digital militias accused of spreading distorted news and hate.
Musk, who denounced the order as censorship, responded by closing the platform's offices in Brazil. x, formerly known as twitter, said at the time that its services would remain available in Brazil.
<img src="https://technicalterrence.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Judge-orders-immediate-closure-of-Musk39s-X-in-Brazil-By.jpg" title="© Reuters. The logo of social media platform x is seen displayed on a mobile phone next to a reflection of Alfredo Ceschiatti's sculpture La Justicia, outside Brazil's Supreme Court in this illustration taken August 30, 2024, in Brasilia, Brazil. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino” alt=”© Reuters. The logo of social media platform x is seen displayed on a mobile phone next to a reflection of Alfredo Ceschiatti's sculpture La Justicia, outside Brazil's Supreme Court in this illustration taken August 30, 2024, in Brasilia, Brazil. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino” rel=”external-image”/>
Amid the underlying dispute over x, Brazil’s Supreme Court also blocked local bank accounts of satellite internet company Starlink, which is 40% owned by Musk, prompting the company on Friday to ask the court to stay that decision.
($1 = 5.6349 reais) (This news has been re-archived to add the judge's full name in paragraph 2)
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