Access to Elon Musk’s social network X began to disappear across Brazil early Saturday after a Supreme Court judge ordered its suspension. The block comes after Musk’s refusal to comply with court orders to suspend certain accounts, prompting one of the most significant challenges yet to his vision of turning X into a digital town square with minimal restrictions.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the nation’s telecom agency to block access to X due to the company’s lack of a physical presence in Brazil. This follows Musk’s decision to close X’s office in the country last week after Justice Moraes threatened arrests for ignoring his orders to remove accounts that allegedly violated Brazilian laws.
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X has called the judge’s sealed orders illegal and vowed to make them public. Musk criticized Justice Moraes, claiming that the judge is undermining democracy for political reasons. In a rare move, Justice Moraes also warned that anyone in Brazil using X through a VPN could face fines of up to $9,000 a day.
Additionally, Justice Moraes froze the finances of Musk’s other business, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite-internet service, in an attempt to collect $3 million in fines against X. Starlink, which has gained popularity in Brazil with over 250,000 customers, responded by stating it would fight the order and, if necessary, offer its service for free in Brazil.
The standoff between Musk and Justice Moraes has intensified over the past months. Musk accuses the judge of censoring conservative voices, while Justice Moraes argues that Musk is obstructing efforts to prevent the spread of disinformation and uphold Brazil’s democratic processes.
As X went dark, some Brazilian users were unable to access the platform, receiving error messages when attempting to log in. In his order, Justice Moraes labeled Musk an “outlaw,” accusing him of allowing the spread of disinformation, hate speech, and attacks on democracy.
This confrontation has now become central to Musk’s attempt to position X as a platform for unrestricted speech, despite the potential risks to revenue and influence. With Brazil ranking as one of X’s top markets, the ongoing blackout will test Musk’s commitment to his ideology, especially as U.S. advertisers have withdrawn due to increased hate speech and misinformation on the platform since Musk’s takeover.
Since acquiring X, formerly known as Twitter, for $44 billion in 2022, Musk has removed many content moderation rules and reinstated several suspended accounts. However, he has pledged to follow local laws where X operates, leading to compliance with some government requests while resisting others.
In Brazil, Justice Moraes has become a key figure in the fight against online threats to democracy. Empowered by the Supreme Court, he has ordered the takedown of at least 140 accounts, primarily right-wing, that questioned the 2022 election results and supported the far-right movement led by former President Jair Bolsonaro. Justice Moraes has also led investigations into Bolsonaro and played a role in disqualifying him from running in future elections, making the judge a divisive figure in Brazil’s political landscape.
Key Points
Brazil Blocks X: Access to Elon Musk’s social network X was blocked across Brazil following a Supreme Court order due to Musk’s refusal to comply with account suspension orders.
Supreme Court Involvement: Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the block, citing the lack of X’s physical presence in the country.
Office Closure: Musk recently closed X’s office in Brazil after threats of arrests for ignoring orders to remove accounts violating Brazilian laws.
Legal Dispute: X has called the judge’s orders illegal and vowed to make them public. Musk criticized the judge for allegedly undermining democracy.
VPN Fines: Justice Moraes warned that anyone using X via VPN in Brazil could face fines of up to $9,000 per day.
Starlink Finances Frozen: The judge also froze the finances of Musk’s other business, SpaceX’s Starlink, in an attempt to collect $3 million in fines.
Ongoing Tension: The conflict between Musk and Justice Moraes has been escalating, with Musk accusing the judge of censoring conservative voices, while the judge claims Musk is obstructing efforts to protect democracy.
Impact on X Users: Some users in Brazil have reported being unable to access X, receiving error messages when attempting to log in.
Justice Moraes’ Influence: The judge has played a significant role in Brazil’s efforts to combat online threats, ordering the removal of at least 140 accounts and leading investigations into former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Musk’s Strategy Tested: The block in Brazil poses a major challenge to Musk’s attempt to position X as a platform for unrestricted speech, especially as the platform’s international presence becomes increasingly important.
