Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, has suspended access to Elon Musk’s X social network in compliance with a court order issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The suspension was triggered by X’s failure to meet a deadline for appointing a legal representative in Brazil.
Read: Bandwidth Blog & Smile 90.4FM Tech Tuesday: Solar energy game changer!
Musk has accused Moraes of unjustified censorship, while the judge has insisted on the need for hate speech regulations on social media platforms. The suspension of X in Brazil, a significant market, could have a detrimental impact on the platform’s advertising revenue, which has already been a challenge for Musk.
Despite X remaining accessible in Brazil late on Friday, some users reported being blocked. Three of the country’s top telecoms carriers announced plans to implement the suspension from midnight on Saturday.
The feud between Musk and Moraes has escalated, with Moraes freezing the bank accounts of Starlink, a SpaceX subsidiary. In his ruling, Moraes ordered X to comply with all related court orders, including paying fines and appointing a local representative. Anatel is proceeding with the suspension, but a timetable has not been specified.
Moraes has imposed fines of up to R160,000 per day on those who continue to access X using VPNs. While Apple and Google were initially instructed to remove X from their app stores, Moraes later reversed this decision.
Unlike many other countries, Brazil’s Supreme Court judges have broad powers to make unilateral decisions. Moraes’s decision has been supported by a majority of the court, including the chief justice.
The dispute stems from an earlier order by Moraes requiring X to block accounts implicated in the spread of distorted news and hate. Musk denounced this as censorship and responded by closing X’s offices in Brazil. Despite this, X remained accessible in the country, and Musk has stated that Starlink would continue to serve Brazilians for free until the matter is resolved.
Starlink has requested the Supreme Court to suspend the decision to freeze its bank accounts, arguing compliance with all judicial orders. However, this request was dismissed.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva emphasized the importance of all businesses operating in the country complying with legal obligations. He criticized Musk for disrespecting the law, while Moraes reiterated his commitment to holding accountable those who violate democracy and fundamental human rights.
The ongoing dispute between Musk and the Brazilian government highlights the complexities of regulating social media platforms and the potential consequences of non-compliance with local laws.
