X Faces Suspension Order from Brazilian Judge; Social Media Platform Responds

Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil. The move follows X’s refusal to appoint a new legal representative, a requirement under Brazilian law, and the platform’s resistance to what it claims are illegal censorship demands.

• Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the suspension order after X defied his mandates to restrict certain accounts accused of spreading misinformation, including those of a Brazilian senator and a 16-year-old girl.

• X responded with a scathing statement, accusing the judge of using his position to silence political opponents and insisting that the platform would not comply with what it considers illegal demands. The statement also pledged to publish all of the judge’s demands and related court filings to ensure transparency.

The conflict between de Moraes and X has been brewing since April when the platform, under the leadership of CTO and Executive Chairman Elon Musk, refused to censor accounts without being provided clear reasons or legal justifications. In response to the suspension, Musk has publicly criticized de Moraes, calling his actions “draconian” and accusing him of betraying the Brazilian constitution.

The suspension order also threatens severe penalties for Brazilian users who attempt to access X through alternative means, such as VPNs, with fines of nearly $9,000 per day. Despite the risks, X remains committed to protecting freedom of speech, as stated in their response to the suspension.

This showdown between a tech giant and a powerful judge highlights the ongoing global struggle between government control and free speech in the digital age. As X prepares to release detailed information on the judge’s demands, the world will be watching to see how this clash unfolds.

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