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Brazilian regulator acts to block access to Elon Musk's X following court ruling

Brazilian regulator acts to block access to Elon Musk’s X following court ruling

Brazil’s telecommunications regulator announced on Friday that it would suspend access to Elon Musk’s X social media platform in the country in response to a court order issued by a judge involved in a prolonged conflict with Musk. The platform failed to meet a Thursday deadline to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, leading to the suspension.

Musk has accused Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes of imposing undue censorship, while the judge maintains that regulations are necessary to combat hate speech on social media. Musk criticized the decision, calling X “the #1 source of truth in Brazil” in a Friday post. The suspension could deal a significant blow to X, one of its largest markets, as Musk faces challenges with advertising revenue.

As of late Friday, X was still accessible in Brazil, but some users reported losing access. Major telecom companies in the country said they would begin blocking the platform starting at midnight, according to local reports. The conflict has also led to the freezing of Starlink’s bank accounts in Brazil. Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk’s SpaceX, was included in Moraes’ ruling, which ordered X’s suspension until it complied with court orders, including fines exceeding $3 million and the appointment of a local representative.

The telecommunications regulator, Anatel, is working on implementing the suspension, but a specific timeline has not been provided. To fully enforce the block, telecom providers would need to halt X’s traffic and prevent users from bypassing restrictions using VPNs. Moraes has threatened fines for VPN users and initially instructed tech companies Apple and Google to remove X from app stores, though he later reversed this directive.

Brazil’s Supreme Court judges wield significant individual authority, and Moraes has received backing from the majority of the 11-member court, including Chief Justice Roberto Barroso. Musk, who also owns 40% of SpaceX and leads Tesla, has fought back against what he perceives as censorship. He closed X’s offices in Brazil but kept the platform available and vowed to continue offering Starlink services to Brazilians for free amid the dispute.

On Friday, Starlink sought to overturn the freeze on its accounts, citing compliance with legal orders, but the request was denied. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized that all companies must adhere to Brazilian law, regardless of wealth, a stance Musk mocked in a post, calling the president Moraes’ “lapdog” and labeling the judge a “dictator.” Moraes, however, remained firm, insisting that violators of democracy and human rights, whether online or offline, must face consequences.


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