Elon Musk‘s X platform is facing a prohibition in Brazil due to a court ruling that it failed to appoint a legal representative.
In Brazil, the country’s highest court has issued a ruling that threatens to prohibit Elon Musk’s X. This decision was made in response to accusations of spreading misinformation and hate speech. The Federal Supreme Court suspended the platform, which was presided over by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, for failing to designate a legal representative within the required 24-hour period. The decision represents a substantial escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Brazilian authorities and the Tesla CEO.
Brazil Prohibits Elon Musk’s X
Brazil’s highest court has declared Elon Musk’s X suspension, alleging that the social media company has consistently disregarded court orders to designate a legal representative. Minister Alexandre de Moraes instructed the National Telecommunications Agency (ANATEL) to terminate access to the platform in Brazil within the next 24 hours, according to a recent report.
Furthermore, he demanded that technology titans like Apple and Google remove Elon Musk’s social media platform from their app stores within five days. Moraes criticized the platform for establishing a “lawless land” in Brazil.
The Minister contended that the platform has been employed to disseminate hate speech, bigotry, and anti-democratic content on a large scale. He had imposed a daily sanction of R$50,000 on users who attempted to access the platform through VPNs and other methods.
In the interim, Moraes accused the platform of enabling extremist groups and neglecting to remove profiles that disseminate misinformation and undermine democratic institutions. Additionally, this action is a consequence of Elon Musk’s X’s failure to comply with court orders and its disregard for penalties totaling approximately R$18 million.
Elon Musk’s Legal Conflict in Brazil
Elon Musk has publicly criticized the court’s actions, claiming they are politically motivated and unlawful. The social media firm asserts that Judge Alexandre de Moraes required adherence to orders that directly opposed Brazil’s laws.
The platform also accused Moraes of threatening to imprison its legal representative, who resigned due to the pressure. It is important to note that X closed its office in Brazil earlier this month, citing threats against its legal representative.
The social media company stated that it would publish all court filings and demands submitted by Moraes to guarantee transparency. Musk utilized his platform to condemn the judge’s actions, characterizing them as part of a more extensive effort to suppress political opponents. The platform pledged to safeguard free speech rights, asserting that it would not submit to unlawful or clandestine demands.
The tech magnate has characterized the court’s approach as atypical, pointing out that the judge’s orders did not adhere to Brazil’s legal standards. The Brazilian court was accused of bias by the social media giant, who promised to respond.
