Brazil | Judge orders suspension of social network X

(Brasilia) A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Friday ordered the suspension in Brazil of the social network X, owned by tycoon Elon Musk, following a long legal battle.

The “immediate, complete and integral suspension of the operation of “X Brasil internet LTDA” in the national territory” has been decided, according to the decision of Judge Alexandre de Moraes, of the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

The magistrate ordered the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) to “adopt all necessary measures” so that this measure comes into force within 24 hours.

He also called on tech giants Google and Apple, as well as internet service providers, to “introduce technological barriers that can prevent the use of the X application” and access to the website.

Judge Moraes had given the American billionaire’s platform 24 hours on Wednesday evening to appoint a legal representative in the country, or face suspension from the network.

When the deadline expired, the social network said in a statement that it expected to be blocked “soon” for its refusal to comply with the “illegal orders” of Judge de Moraes, who is leading the fight against disinformation in the country, to “censor his political opponents.”

The suspension will remain in effect until the social network complies with the Brazilian justice system’s decisions, pays the fines imposed on it and appoints a legal representative, according to the decision issued Friday.

On August 17, Elon Musk announced the closure of X’s offices in Brazil, citing the actions of Judge Moraes, while leaving the service available there.

The magistrate opened an investigation into Elon Musk in April, accusing him of reactivating accounts suspended by decision of the Brazilian courts. X had admitted that users had managed to circumvent the restrictions.

In recent years, the judge has ordered the blocking of accounts of influential figures in Brazil’s ultraconservative movements for spreading “fake news.”