Brazil has officially blocked Elon Musk’s social media platform X after the company failed to comply with a judge’s order. This suspension comes after a monthslong feud between Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation. Major internet service providers in Brazil began suspending access to X following the deadline set by de Moraes.
De Moraes criticized Musk for disrespecting Brazilian sovereignty and the judiciary, leading to the suspension of X until the company complies with the orders. The justice also imposed a daily fine for using VPNs to access the platform. Brazil is a significant market for X, with millions of users facing the impact of the block.
Musk and de Moraes have clashed over censorship issues, leading to X’s suspension in Brazil. The ongoing feud reflects Musk’s stance as a “free speech absolutist” and de Moraes’ efforts to protect democracy. The situation has escalated to freezing the finances of Starlink, another company owned by Musk, which led to further backlash from the tech entrepreneur.
Despite the challenges, Musk has offered free internet service through SpaceX in Brazil until the matter is resolved. The dispute between Musk, de Moraes, and the Brazilian judiciary highlights the complexities surrounding social media platforms and free speech.
AP writers Barbara Ortutay reported from San Francisco and David Biller from Rio. Savarese contributed from Sao Paulo.
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