Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has ordered the suspension of X, formerly Twitter, throughout the country after the platform failed to comply with a directive to name a legal representative in Brazil.
The court’s decision, issued by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, mandates Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency to enforce the suspension and directs Apple and Google to remove X’s apps from their stores.
The ruling also imposes a daily fine of 50,000 Brazilian reals for attempts to bypass the ban, including using VPNs. This action is part of a broader inquiry led by de Moraes into X’s role in spreading disinformation related to the January 2023 insurrection in Brasilia.
Elon Musk, CEO of X, has responded with criticism, accusing Brazil’s government of oppressive tactics. Additionally, the court has frozen the finances of Musk’s Starlink service in Brazil, further escalating tensions. The suspension follows a pattern of Brazil’s strict enforcement against tech platforms failing to combat disinformation effectively.
