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Why is X being blocked in Brazil?

By Stephanie Weaver
Published  August 30, 2024 8:02pm EDT
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A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media giant X in Brazil after the tech billionaire refused to name a legal representative in the country, according to a copy of his decision.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes had warned Musk on Wednesday night that X could be blocked in Brazil if he failed to comply with his order to name a representative, and established a 24-hour deadline. The company hasn’t had a representative in the country since earlier this month.

"Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country," de Moraes wrote in his decision.

Musk sounded off on the decision Friday, claiming that Brazil was "shutting down the #1 source of truth in Brazil."

"Alexandre de Moraes is an evil dictator cosplaying as a judge," Musk said on X, pinning his comment to the top of his page, adding, "The oppressive regime in Brazil is so afraid of the people learning the truth that they will bankrupt anyone who tries." 

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The move further escalates a monthslong feud between Musk and De Moraes over free speech and misinformation. 

FILE: Elon Musk account on X is displayed on a smartphone. (Credit: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

The justice gave internet service providers and app stores five days to block access to X, and said the platform will stay suspended until it complies with his orders. He established the same deadline for app stores to remove virtual private networks, or VPNs, and set a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) for people or companies using them to access X.

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Brazil is an important market for X, which has struggled with the loss of advertisers since Musk purchased the former Twitter in 2022. Market research group Emarketer says some 40 million Brazilians, roughly one-fifth of the population, access X at least once per month.