Brazil Blocks Elon Musk’s X Amid Legal Dispute with Judge

According to SAEDNEWS, Early Saturday morning, Brazil took significant action against Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, by blocking access to the site entirely. This move came after X failed to comply with a Supreme Court order requiring the company to appoint a legal representative in Brazil.

The situation escalated after Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes warned that X would face blockage if it did not name a representative. Following the missed deadline, Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, instructed internet service providers to restrict access, making the platform almost impossible to reach on both the internet and mobile apps.

Justice de Moraes condemned Musk’s actions, stating, “Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary.” He emphasized that X will remain blocked until it follows his orders and announced a fine of 50,000 reais (about $8,900) for anyone attempting to access X using a VPN.

Additionally, this dispute led to the freezing of bank accounts in Brazil belonging to Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink.

X is an important platform in Brazil, with around 40 million users—about one-fifth of the population—visiting each month. Linda Yaccarino, X’s CEO, expressed sadness over the situation, stating, “I wish it did not have to come to this – it breaks my heart.” She criticized Brazil for not upholding its constitution against censorship.

In response to the blockage, X posted on its Global Government Affairs page, arguing that the judge's orders amounted to censorship of political opponents. The company mentioned that they were threatened with legal action against their Brazilian representative, who has since resigned.

The clash between X and Brazilian authorities centers around accusations that the platform is not doing enough to restrict far-right accounts and misinformation. Justice de Moraes has previously targeted Musk with investigations related to the spread of false information.

Musk, a strong advocate for free speech, has repeatedly criticized the judge, labeling him a “dictator” and “tyrant.” Supporters of Justice de Moraes argue that his actions are necessary to protect democracy.

Brazilian law requires foreign internet companies to have a representative in the country so they can effectively respond to court orders and manage content removal. This requirement has caused conflicts in the past, leading to temporary shutdowns of platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram for similar reasons.

As the block unfolds, many Brazilian users are seeking alternatives, with some discussing VPNs that could help them access X from outside Brazil. However, it is unclear how authorities will monitor and enforce fines related to VPN usage.

Musk has responded defiantly on social media, calling Justice de Moraes an “outright criminal” and pledging that Starlink will provide free internet service in Brazil until the issues are resolved due to the recent financial freeze.

In the midst of this growing conflict, it remains to be seen how long this blockade will last and what implications it may have for X and its users in Brazil.