Elon Musk (wikimediacommons)
Brazil's Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a ban on Elon Musk's social media platform 'X,' formerly known as Twitter. The decision, made by all five judges, follows a previous order by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who imposed the ban after Musk's company failed to meet a court-mandated deadline to appoint a legal representative in Brazil.
The ban, which took effect on Saturday, was revisited on Monday when the court's justices were asked to review Justice Moraes's ruling. Justice Flavio Dino, who supported the decision, emphasized the importance of adhering to the country's laws, stating, "It is not possible for a company to operate in the territory of a country and intend to impose its vision on which rules should be valid or applied." Justice Cristiano Zanin echoed this sentiment, warning that entities that disregard court orders could become "outlaws."
Justices Carmen Lucia and Luiz Fux also endorsed the ban, making the ruling unanimous. Despite the firm stance, some justices noted that the suspension could be lifted if X complies with the court's previous rulings.
Justice Moraes's original order condemned Musk's actions, accusing him of attempting to spread disinformation, hate speech, and undermine Brazil's democratic processes. The Supreme Court has ordered all telecom providers to block access to X in Brazil. The ban will persist until X adheres to Moraes's directives and settles fines exceeding USD 3 million.
Elon Musk has criticized the ban, labeling it as censorship. He defended X as a key "source of Truth" in Brazil and referred to Justice Moraes as a "dictator." Since acquiring X in 2022, Musk has made controversial changes to the platform, including reducing content moderation, promoting far-right content, and endorsing Donald Trump for US president.
Exactly.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 2, 2024
This platform does not seek to impose the laws of the United States on other countries – we obey the laws of that country in that country.
The problem in Brazil is that @AlexandreFiles we were being told to break Brazilian laws and that we would be sanctioned if we… https://t.co/jt9nAHjd9V
Brazil's stance poses a significant challenge for X, especially as the platform struggles with declining advertising revenue. With an estimated 40 million users in Brazil, the country represents one of X's largest markets. Those caught using X through encrypted connections could face fines of up to 50,000 reais (USD 9,000) per day. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court's decision, stating that it sends a strong message.
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