- Brazil blocked the social network X on Friday after its owner Elon Musk refused to comply with a Brazilian judge’s orders to suspend certain accounts.
- A Brazilian Supreme Court justice ordered Brazil’s telecom agency to block access to X across the nation of 200 million because the company lacked a necessary legal representative in Brazil.
- In an uncommon move, the justice froze the finances of Musk’s SpaceX’s Starlink satellite-internet service in Brazil to try to collect fines he has levied against X.
The social network X will go dark in Brazil, a nation of 200 million people, after its owner Elon Musk refused to comply with court orders from Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to suspend certain accounts. This is the biggest test yet of Musk’s efforts to transform X into a digital town square with free speech protections.
Background on the Conflict
Justice Moraes ordered Brazil’s telecom agency to block access to X across Brazil because the company lacked a necessary legal representative in the country.
Earlier, Moraes had threatened arrests of X employees for ignoring orders to remove accounts he said broke Brazilian laws. In response, Musk closed X’s office in Brazil last week.
Moraes has called X’s refusal to follow orders illegal. Musk has accused the justice of “destroying free speech for political purposes” and called him an “unelected pseudo-judge.”
Brazil’s Actions
On Friday, Justice Moraes froze the finances of Musk’s satellite internet company SpaceX in an attempt to collect $3 million in fines levied against X.
Moraes also threatened fines of nearly $9000 a day for any person in Brazil who accesses X via a VPN. However, after backlash he reversed the VPN decision.
Responses
X called Moraes’ orders illegal and said it plans to publish them, stating that “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy.”
SpaceX said it will fight Moraes’ order and make its Starlink service free in Brazil if necessary. Starlink has grown rapidly in Brazil, with over 250,000 customers.
Conclusion
The conflict between Musk and the Brazilian court poses a major test of Musk’s vision for light touch moderation of X. Brazil’s actions also endanger access to social media and internet services for millions of Brazilians.
