X, previously Twitter, has been banned in Brazil after failing to satisfy a Supreme Court judge’s deadline for naming a new legal agent in the country.
Alexandre Judge Moraes ordered the social media platform’s “immediate and complete suspension” unless it complies with all court decisions and pays outstanding fines.
The controversy began in April, when a judge ordered the suspension of dozens of X accounts for allegedly spreading misinformation.
Elon Musk, X’s owner, responded to the judgement by saying, “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.”
According to reports, at least one-tenth of the country’s 200 million people utilise the social media network.
By Saturday morning, some users claimed that access to the platform was no longer available.
It shuttered its office in Brazil earlier this month, claiming that its representative had been threatened with arrest if she did not comply with “censorship” directives that were also illegal under Brazilian law.
Justice Moraes ordered that X accounts accused of disseminating disinformation, including several supporters of former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, be blocked while they are investigated.
He stated that the company’s legal officials would be held accountable if any accounts were revived. X has been threatened with fines for failing to comply with the decision, and the business and Mr. Musk have joined opponents in Brazil in accusing the judge of being left-wing.
It is the latest in a string of controversies facing the internet mogul, who has argued with the EU over X legislation and earlier this month became caught in a verbal spat with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The president of Brazil’s telecoms agency, which has been charged with suspending the platform, told Reuters that he is “proceeding with the compliance” to do so.
Justice Moraes has ordered Apple and Google a five-day deadline to remove X from their software stores and disable its use on iOS and Android devices.
He stated that individuals or firms who use VPNs (virtual private networks) to access the platform could face a fine of R$50,000 (£6.7k).
According to the judge’s order, the prohibition will remain in effect until X names a new legal representative in the country and pays fines for breaking Brazilian law.
In an earlier post on one of its official accounts, X stated that it would not comply with the demands.
“Soon, we expect Judge Alexandre de Moraes will order X to be shut down in Brazil—simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents,” the post said.
“The fundamental issue at stake here is that Judge de Moraes demands we break Brazil’s own laws. We simply won’t do that.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Musk’s satellite internet firm Starlink’s bank accounts in Brazil have been frozen in accordance with a previous Supreme Court judgement.
Starlink reacted on X, stating that the “order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied—unconstitutionally—against X.”
Mr. Musk further stated on X that “SpaceX and X are two completely different companies with separate shareholders.”
Starlink is a subsidiary of Mr. Musk’s rocket company, SpaceX.
