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- The Brazilian Supreme Court has ordered social media platform X to cease operations in the country.
- The court provided a deadline until Thursday for X to appoint a new legal representative or risk being suspended, according to reports from BBC.
- A public conflict between Elon Musk and Judge Alexandre de Moraes has persisted for several months.
On Friday, reports emerged that a Brazilian Supreme Court justice had mandated the immediate cessation of operations for Elon Musk’s social media platform X until it adheres to court directives and settles existing penalties. Numerous news organizations covered this development extensively.
In a statement delivered on Wednesday, Judge Alexandre de Moraes stipulated that X has 24 hours to designate an alternate legal representative—capable of addressing governmental demands regarding account suspensions—and pay outstanding fines totaling 18.5 million reais (approximately $3.28 million), as reported by Reuters.
The Thursday deadline passed without any update from Musk or his company’s officials, prompting additional orders for an “immediate and total halt” of all operations within Brazil, according to BBC coverage.
Further escalating matters, De Moraes warned that individuals in Brazil who access X through VPNs could face penalties up to nearly $9,000 per day. Additionally, he initiated freezes on accounts belonging to another of Musk’s enterprises—SpaceX’s Starlink—in efforts to recover fines imposed on X as The New York Times highlighted.
X’s Global Government Affairs office expressed concerns in a statement issued Thursday regarding potential shutdowns due purely to their refusal “to comply with illegal demands aimed at censoring political dissenters,” they claimed targetted included elected officials and minors alike.
We anticipate imminent orders from Judge Alexandre de Moraes leading towards the shutdown of X in Brazil due solely because we would not abide by his unlawful censorship orders concerning numerous adversaries including an elected Senator…
When we attempted…
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) August 29, 2024
“During our attempts at self-defense in court proceedings,” continued their statement from Global Government Affairs office,, “Judge De Moraes sought imprisonment against our Brazilian legal representative. Following her resignation under pressure with her financial accounts subsequently frozen—a blatant disregard for our legitimate grievances were dismissed repeatedly.”
This month also saw De Moraes threatening potential arrest against Rachel Nova Conceicao (an appointed spokesperson for X) if compliance with previous injunctions demanding content removals wasn’t met promptingly.
Dedicating specific ire towards what he describes as ‘digital militias,’ De Moraes aims at content disseminated by these groups which have allegedly been orchestrating misinformation surrounding far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro’s tenure. Some factions promoted conspiracy theories asserting interference was responsible for Bolsonaro’s defeat during last year’s elections while allied with those responsible for fanning unrest including mob uprisings targeting Congress and other government institutions seeking drastic regime shifts throughout Brazil.
X advocates hold firm that their overarching conflict stems directly from their reluctance towards complying with what they label as unconstitutional decreees infringing upon free expression laws within Brazil’s judicial framework. In contrast however mentioned policies instituted post-2022 elections empowered judges like de Moraeas strictly oversee digital platforms preventing mal information disruptions destabilizing democratic processes engaging fervent retaliations especially rooted among leftist Brazilians contrasted notably by staunch supporters linked closely via Bolsonaro associations directly opposed such crackdowns notwithstanding both movements’ constitutional advocacy over protected speech albeit differing contingencies allowing state-imposed constraints depending casefulness around hate propaganda assembly constraints exceeding US standards generally observed domestically inside protective frameworks even usually exhibited judiciously across similar historic circumstances maintained thus far 될 것이다.
“In deviation compared notable technical rivals regimes broadly conform one-way mandates”; noted finalized remarks announce policy asserts remained resilient promoting freedoms explored extending priorities mattered addresses situated conventions transitioning alongside respective nations globally categorically specified role aligns proven commitments foundational across operated establishment acknowledged accordingly resonated stance unyieldingly demonstrated before affected audience lingering consequences interpreted boldly presented essential truths resuming forward network objectives associated global breathe freely articulate unhampered long prioritizing sound advancement retained through metrics scrutinized substantive advocacy undertaken aligned strategically maintaining overall bases forwardthinking motives prioritized continuing objectives seamlessly promoted essentials building amid rounding realities collaborating finely reaching communities engaged thoroughly taking actions lead marching connections observing surroundings pushing forth motivating change regardless superficial opposition motivated imply directions supported intentions unfurling optimism therein exuded broad-minded temperament resonates tightly knitted parallel trajectories directing concurrently placed clout emphasis developing fresh paths representing interdependences deriving networks converging reasons advocating togetherness triumphantly chartered accomplish unique firsthand reflections interspersed measurably beyond original intentions exploring realms carrying present equipping dimensions inciting reasonable predicates showcased validity traversing firmly anchored+directively affirmatively guide intentions prompted storage streamlines credentials aspirations reliably underpinning steadfastness originally amassed reproducibly sourced intended outcomes reflecting timeless strides extoll fostering bonds aspiring concreteness revealing enthusiasms foreseeing horizons personalized approachable approach grounded clarity.'”
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