X, formerly known as Twitter, is facing a ban in Brazil after failing to comply with a Supreme Court judge’s order to appoint a new legal representative.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes has ordered the immediate suspension of the platform until it meets all court requirements and pays outstanding fines.
The dispute began in April when the judge ordered the suspension of several X accounts accused of spreading disinformation.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, has vehemently criticized the decision, stating that free speech is fundamental to democracy and that the judge’s actions are politically motivated.
The EU has also clashed with Musk over X’s regulations, and he recently engaged in a public feud with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Brazil’s telecommunications agency has been tasked with enforcing the ban and is expected to take action within the next 24 hours.
The judge has also given companies like Apple and Google a five-day deadline to remove X from their app stores.
X has previously resisted complying with the court’s demands, arguing that the judge’s orders violate Brazilian law.
The company has stated that it will not censor political opponents and that it is committed to free speech.
Justice Moraes has been involved in a long-running dispute with X, and he has also faced criticism for his decisions to restrict social media platforms in Brazil.
He is currently investigating former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters for their alleged involvement in an attempted coup.
X is not the first social media company to face challenges in Brazil. Last year, Telegram was temporarily banned for failing to cooperate with government requests.
The ban on X in Brazil raises concerns about the platform’s commitment to free speech and its willingness to comply with local laws and regulations.
It also highlights the ongoing tensions between technology companies and governments around the world.
