Brazilian judge halts actions of X following Elon Musk's failure to designate a legal representative
Going Rogue in Brazil: Elon Musk's X Banned Amidst Free Speech Fiasco
The theatrical showdown between billionaire Elon Musk and Brazil's Justice Alexandre de Moraes took a dramatic turn as X, Musk's social media platform, was ordered to halt operations in Brazil.
In a bold move, de Moraes suspended the platform after its CEO, Elon Musk, refused to appoint a legal representative in the South American nation. This escalated the monthslong tussle over freedom of speech, right-wing propaganda, and the spread of misinformation.
De Moraes delicately warned Musk earlier on Wednesday, threatening to block X in Brazil if he didn't comply with his order to name a representative. He granted a 24-hour grace period, but X has been without a Brazilian representative since earlier in the month.
According to de Moraes, Musk's disregard for Brazil's sovereignty, particularly its judiciary, is nothing less than a display of supra-national dominance and defiance towards national laws.
Coinciding with the suspension, de Moraes also imposed a daily fine of 50,000 reais (€8,045) on individuals or companies using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access X.
In a unexpected turn of events, de Moraes retracted his initial ruling, granting Brazil's telecommunications regulator Anatel 24 hours instead of five days to comply with the suspension order. The regulator's chairman, Carlos Baigorri, predicted that the country's major service providers would respond promptly, while smaller ones might need extra time.
Brazil's Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on the matter, but no specific date has been set yet. In the meantime, X continues to face intense criticism from various corners of the Brazilian government.
A defiant Elon Musk labeled de Moraes as an "evil dictator cosplaying as a judge" in a post on X.Many have observed that this is more than just a dispute over freedom of speech; it's a power struggle that could set a precedent for the way tech magnates and sovereign nations interact in the future.
Meanwhile, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva voiced his opinion, emphasizing that every investor needs to adhere to the law. He added, "This is not a country that cower's before anyone, not even those who yell from across the ocean. This guy (Musk) must accept the rules of this country. If this country has made a decision through the Supreme Court, he must abide by it."
X has found it challenging to maintain its momentum in the Brazilian market, facing a wave of advertisers leaving since its recent ownership change. Recent statistics indicate that approximately 40 million Brazilians, or around 20% of the population, access X at least once a month [1][2].
X and its previous incarnation, Twitter, have faced bans in multiple countries, primarily authoritarian regimes like Russia, China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan[1]. Other countries like Pakistan and Egypt have temporarily restricted it, often in attempts to quell dissent and unrest[1].
Sources:* [1] BBC News. (n.d.). Elon Musk's Twitter alternative X is blocked in Brazil. Retrieved April 18, 2025, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-62344861* [2] Reuters. (n.d.). Exclusive: Elon Musk’s X blocked in Brazil over failure to comply with court order. Retrieved April 18, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/business/consumer-products/exclusive-elon-musks-x-blocked-brazil-failure-comply-court-order-2022-10-04/
- The social-media platform X, similar to Twitter, has encountered another ban, this time in Brazil, following a free speech fiasco involving its CEO, Elon Musk, and Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
- In policy-and-legislation deliberations, de Moraes ordered a halt to X's operations in Brazil after Musk refused to designate a legal representative in the South American nation.
- Elon Musk, on X, has labeled de Moraes as an "evil dictator cosplaying as a judge," justifying it as more than a dispute over freedom of speech; it's a power struggle that may set a precedent for tech magnates and sovereign nations interactions.
- According to de Moraes, the daily fine of 50,000 reais (€8,045) on individuals or companies using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access X, coincides with the suspension, highlighting the seriousness of the policy-and-legislation implications.
- Despite facing intense criticism and a wave of advertisers leaving, approximately 40 million Brazilians, or around 20% of the population, access X at least once a month, showcasing the ongoing interest in entertainment and general-news on the platform, comparable to Twitter's previous progress in Brazil.
