Alexandre de Moraes has issued an order for the “immediate and complete suspension” of a social media platform, mandating that it must comply with all judicial directives and settle outstanding fines before operations can resume.
This conflict escalated from an earlier incident in April where Moraes directed the blocking of numerous accounts on the platform, which he accused of disseminating false information.In response to this latest ruling, Elon Musk, the platform’s owner, voiced his concerns on the matter, stating, “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.” Musk’s comments reflect a broader debate on freedom of speech versus the regulation of misinformation, highlighting tensions between tech companies and governmental oversight, especially when it involves judicial intervention in digital content moderation.
The social media platform, known for its significant user base in Brazil, with at least 20 million of the country’s 200 million population engaging with it, has faced a tumultuous period. By the morning of a recent Saturday, some users reported that they could no longer access the platform. This followed the platform’s decision to shutter its office in Brazil earlier in the month, citing threats of arrest against its legal representative for not adhering to what they labeled as “censorship” orders, which they also claimed were illegal under Brazilian law.Justice Alexandre de Moraes had issued directives to block X accounts linked to the dissemination of disinformation, particularly those associated with supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
These accounts were to remain blocked during investigations, with the legal representatives of X being held accountable should these accounts be reactivated. The platform, along with its owner Elon Musk, has criticized these actions, branding Justice Moraes as politically motivated.This incident is part of a broader series of conflicts involving Musk, who has previously clashed with European Union regulators over content moderation on X and more recently engaged in a public dispute with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The head of Brazil’s telecommunications agency has confirmed actions towards suspending the platform, as reported by Reuters. Justice Moraes has not only demanded the removal of X from app stores by companies like Apple and Google but also set a deadline for this action, threatening hefty fines for individuals or entities using VPNs to circumvent the ban.The platform’s resistance was publicly declared in an X post, stating their refusal to comply with what they described as illegal censorship demands from Justice de Moraes. This stance has led to the expectation that X might soon be entirely shut down in Brazil, highlighting a significant clash over freedom of speech, legal jurisdiction, and the operational autonomy of social media platforms in the country.