X, formerly known as Twitter, has been banned in Brazil after failing to meet a Supreme Court deadline to appoint a new legal representative. Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the platform’s suspension until it complies with court orders and pays existing fines. The dispute began in April when the judge ordered the suspension of several X accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation.
Elon Musk, owner of X, criticized the decision, accusing the judge of undermining free speech for political reasons. The platform, reportedly used by 10% of Brazil’s population, has seen users struggling to access the site since the ban was implemented. X had previously closed its office in Brazil, citing threats of arrest to its representative and labeling the orders as censorship.
Justice Moraes has demanded that Apple and Google remove X from their stores and block its use on their systems, with penalties for non-compliance. He also warned that anyone using VPNs to access the platform could face fines. The conflict with X is the latest in a series of controversies involving Musk, who has faced disputes over the regulation of his platforms globally.
Justice Moraes, known for his actions against social media platforms, is also investigating former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters for their alleged involvement in an attempted coup. This ban follows previous restrictions on other platforms in Brazil, including Telegram and WhatsApp, over compliance issues with the authorities.
