Brazil’s Supreme Court Upholds Nationwide Ban on Elon Musk’s X Social Network

Brazil’s federal supreme court has made a decisive move against Elon Musk’s social network, X, by upholding a nationwide suspension of the platform. In a unanimous decision, the court’s justices agreed to enforce the ban, citing the platform’s non-compliance with Brazilian laws.

Justice Luiz Fux supported the suspension but voiced “reservations” regarding part of the order that allows the court to impose fines on individuals or businesses that attempt to bypass the ban using VPNs or other methods. Despite his concerns, the measure stands, reinforcing the court’s hardline stance.

The controversy began when Brazil’s top justice, Alexandre de Moraes, issued the suspension orders late Friday after Musk and his team failed to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil within a 24-hour deadline. This deadline followed a warning from the court that non-compliance could result in the suspension of the platform’s activities in the country.

X had previously ignored court directives to remove accounts and posts that allegedly violated Brazil’s laws concerning political misinformation and hate speech. The defiance did not go unnoticed, leading to the court’s severe action against the social network.

In addition to suspending X, the court also took steps to ensure financial compliance. The assets of another Musk-led company, Starlink, which provides satellite internet services, were frozen in Brazil. This move was aimed at guaranteeing that the fines imposed on X would be paid.