Brazilian Supreme Court Takes Action Against X Amid Compliance Issues
In a significant move, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has mandated that internet service providers (ISPs) suspend access to the social media platform known as X. According to The New York Times, this decision arises from Elon Musk’s unwillingness to appoint a legal representative for his case and his failure to adhere to Justice Moraes’ directive aimed at dismantling accounts on X considered detrimental to Brazil’s democratic integrity. The official order has been made public by the Brazilian news organization Poder 360.
Compliance Deadline for Telecom Companies and App Stores
The directive imposes strict deadlines on telecommunications firms and major tech companies, requiring them to remove X from their digital platforms within five days. Both Apple and Google must comply with these orders by removing the app from their respective stores. Furthermore, Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) has acknowledged receipt of this ruling, placing ISPs under a tight timeline of just 24 hours for compliance.
Severe Consequences for VPN Usage
This ruling does not merely restrict access but criminalizes the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) for accessing X. Individuals attempting to navigate around this ban via VPN could incur hefty penalties amounting to 50,000 Brazilian Real (approximately $8,900) per day.
Financial Pressures on SpaceX’s Starlink Service Provider
In an additional effort exert pressure on Musk, Justice Moraes took action against SpaceX’s Starlink by freezing its financial assets in Brazil on Thursday. This is relevant as both SpaceX and X are predominantly owned by Musk. Notably, there are ongoing unresolved financial sanctions against X totaling $3 million related to these legal proceedings in Brazil.
The day prior, Moraes had warned that he would impose an outright ban on the platform if no legal representation was appointed by X within the set timeframe—an ultimatum that went unheeded.
A Show of Defiance from Starlink
Starlink expressed strong opposition against this judicial order and indicated plans to contest it vigorously. In an intriguing statement reflecting resolve, they suggested offering their services free of charge as a means of countering the court’s mandate.
A Long-standing Legal Battle Over Misinformation Regulations
This conflict between Musk and Justice Moraes has persisted over several months. The latter holds an influential role not only as Supreme Court Judge but also in regulating electoral matters in Brazil since he oversees adherence among candidates regarding misinformation spread through online platforms.
The electoral landscape during Brazil’s intense 2022 presidential contest between then-incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was marred with organized disinformation campaigns aimed at misleading voters—a scenario where Justice Moraes previously presided over proceedings while leading the Superior Electoral Court which enforced bans on harmful online content.
Musk Accuses Authorities of Censorship Attempts
Musk is vocally critical regarding these directives from Justice Moraes labeling them “censorship orders.” Most recently, he indicated defiance towards compliance with local laws when he shut down operations at X’s office in Brazil citing concerns about staff welfare as justification.
X’s Global Government Affairs team also committed publicly to release all communications concerning what they describe as “illegal demands” made by Judge de Moraes along with pertinent court documents related thereto.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at
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