In a dramatic development, the Supreme Court of Brazil has issued an immediate suspension order for the X platform, owned by billionaire Elon Musk. This decision comes after Musk failed to comply with a court order to appoint a legal representative in Brazil within a 24-hour deadline.
The court's ruling, delivered by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, states that access to the X platform will be banned indefinitely until the company meets all judicial requirements and pays existing fines. The initial deadline for appointing a new legal representative was set for Thursday evening, but Elon Musk's refusal to comply led to the immediate suspension.
The Dispute
The core issue behind the suspension is the lack of local representation after Musk shut down all X offices in Brazil on August 17. This move was reportedly in response to Judge Moraes’s demand for X to censor certain content on the platform, particularly conservative voices, and to suspend numerous false accounts spreading misinformation.
Judge Moraes has also directed major tech companies, such as Apple and Google, to remove X from their app stores within five days. This is a significant move considering Brazil ranks fourth globally in terms of X app downloads, with over 25 million downloads since 2022.
Implications
With the suspension now in place, Brazilian users attempting to access X via VPNs may face fines. The legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between global tech companies and national regulations concerning content management and legal compliance.
The Supreme Court of Brazil’s decision underscores the importance of adhering to local regulations and the potential consequences of failing to do so. The indefinite suspension of X marks a critical point in the ongoing conflict between global platforms and national legal frameworks.
Source: The New York Times
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