Telecommunications authorities in Brazil have initiated the process to block the social media platform X, following a Supreme Court order mandating the suspension of its operations in the country. Judge Alexandre de Moraes issued a ruling on Friday for the “immediate, complete, and total suspension of X’s operations” until all court orders were complied with, fines were paid, and a new legal representative for the company was appointed. Three of Brazil’s largest telecommunications providers announced that they would begin blocking access to X from midnight, according to a report from local news outlet UOL.
The conflict between de Moraes and billionaire investor Elon Musk has been ongoing for several months, centered around issues of misinformation and freedom of speech. De Moraes contends that Musk previously refused to block accounts responsible for spreading false news, hate speech, and attacks on the rule of law. Musk has characterized the judge’s order as censorship and even closed the company’s offices in Brazil while ensuring that the platform remained accessible in the country.
In his ruling, de Moraes described Musk as a “lawless” entity that intends to “allow the massive dissemination of misinformation, hate speech, and attacks on the democratic rule of law, undermining voters’ free choice by keeping them away from real and accurate information.” As a result, approximately 40 million Brazilians using the platform may lose access and could face substantial fines of up to 50,000 reais (approximately 9,000 USD) per day if caught using an encrypted connection.
Musk responded swiftly to the court’s order, labeling de Moraes as an “evil dictator” for shutting down the “number 1 source of truth in Brazil.” The judge’s decision could cost X one of its largest and most coveted markets at a time when Musk has been struggling with advertising revenues for the platform.
While X remained accessible in Brazil late Friday, some Brazilians reported on other platforms that their access to X had already been blocked. The leftist president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who reclaimed the presidency in 2022, defended the court’s decision to suspend X. “A lot of money does not give the right to violate Brazilian laws,” Lula stated in a radio interview. “Elon Musk is an American citizen; he is not a global citizen. He cannot insult presidents, congress members, senators, or the Supreme Court. Who does he think he is?” he added.
Musk has received praise from conservative supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, who believe that Lula’s administration has silenced them. Bolsonaro lost the 2022 presidential election to Lula after making unverified claims that Brazil’s electronic voting machines had experienced fraud.
Media experts note that Musk has become a polarizing figure, often aligning himself with right-wing perspectives. In India, he complied with an order from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove accounts and posts related to a wave of farmer protests that occurred in February.
Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, is also embroiled in a conflict with Brazil’s Supreme Court, which has frozen the company’s bank accounts due to X’s unpaid fines. Starlink requested the court on Friday to lift the freeze on its local bank accounts, claiming that it had complied with all court orders. However, this request was denied.
It remains uncertain how long X’s suspension in Brazil will last, but some experts predict that Musk will eventually accept the government’s restrictions “while continuing to portray himself as the victim.”