Brazil Orders Social Media Giant X to Shut Down
Brazil’s Supreme Court has slammed the brakes on social media platform X—formerly Twitter—ordering it to shut down nationwide. The bombshell ruling comes from Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes amid a fiery showdown with X owner Elon Musk.
Legal Clash Over Court Orders and Censorship
The shutdown order follows X’s refusal to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, breaching court requirements. Judge de Moraes has been locked in a months-long battle with Musk, particularly over X ignoring orders to block accounts spreading misinformation and hate speech.
“Our challenges against his manifestly illegal actions were either dismissed or ignored,” X complained, adding that attempts to defend themselves in court were met with threats to imprison their Brazilian lawyer.
Hefty Fines and Strict Penalties For VPN Users
Judge de Moraes didn’t stop at the shutdown. He slapped X with fines totaling 18.5 million reais (£2.5 million). Users trying to dodge the ban through VPNs face penalties up to 50,000 reais (£7,000) daily.
Brazil’s telecom watchdog Anatel confirmed they are enforcing the court’s order without delay.
Market Impact and Ongoing Drama
Brazil is a crucial market for X, boasting around 40 million active users—20% of the population. Since Musk took over in 2022, X has struggled with dwindling advertisers and increased legal woes in the country.
X blasted the Brazilian judiciary for censorship, accusing the judge of targeting political opponents and ignoring their legal protests. Meanwhile, the broader battle highlights growing tensions between global tech giants and national governments over freedom of expression.
With no end in sight to this legal showdown, all eyes remain on Brazil as this blockbuster feud unfolds.
