Brazil's Ban on X Takes Effect After supreme court Ruling

A suspension of Elon Musk's X social network in brazil came into effect early saturday following a supreme court judge's order. The ruling by Judge Alexandre de Moraes stemmed from a protracted dispute between Musk and the Brazilian judiciary over concerns about disinformation.

On Friday, Judge Moraes issued the suspension order after Musk failed to appoint a new legal representative for X in Brazil. By early saturday, users in brazil were encountering access issues, with messages instructing them to reload their browsers without success.

Musk, also the owner of tesla and SpaceX, reacted strongly to the order, labeling Moraes as an "evil dictator cosplaying as a judge" and accusing him of undermining Brazilian democracy. Musk, known for his staunch defense of free speech, has faced criticism for his role in amplifying right-wing narratives following his acquisition of X 2022.

The dispute intensified after Moraes directed the suspension of several X accounts linked to supporters of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro's supporters had been accused of trying to discredit Brazil's electoral system during the 2022 elections. Authorities are investigating whether Bolsonaro attempted a coup to prevent the current president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, from taking office.

Moraes mandated the immediate suspension of X’s operations in brazil, instructing the national communications agency to implement the block within 24 hours and warning of fines for attempts to bypass the ban. Initially, Moraes ordered tech giants like google and apple to block access to the X app and website, but this demand was later moderated.

In response, Musk had earlier shut down X’s business operations in brazil, alleging that Moraes had threatened the company’s previous legal representative with arrest. The situation escalated further when Moraes ordered the freezing of accounts related to Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, in Brazil. Musk is also facing an investigation into claims that he used public funds to support disinformation campaigns favoring Bolsonaro. Brazilian President Lula da Silva has underscored that all investors in brazil must adhere to the country’s constitution and laws.