In Brazil, all five judges on a Supreme Court panel have voted to uphold a ban on Elon Musk’s X social media platform. Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the ban after the company missed a court-imposed deadline to name a legal representative in the country. The decision was backed by Justices Flavio Dino, Cristiano Zanin, Carmen Lucia, and Luiz Fux, making the ruling unanimous. The judges stated that the ban could be reversed if X complies with previous court rulings. Moraes had originally referred to Musk as an “outlaw” for allowing the spread of misinformation and hate speech on the platform.
Musk, who purchased X in 2022, has criticized the ban as censorship and called the platform the top “source of truth” in Brazil. Since acquiring the platform, Musk has eliminated most content moderation teams and promoted far-right content and unsubstantiated claims on his personal feed. The ban could impact one of X’s largest markets, as Brazil is home to an estimated 40 million users. Companies and individuals caught using the platform could face fines of up to 50,000 reais ($9,000) per day. Musk’s satellite internet provider, Starlink, also owned by SpaceX, has refused to comply with the ban and had its Brazilian bank accounts frozen due to a separate dispute over unpaid fines.
The ban on X comes amid concerns over misinformation, hate speech, and attacks on democratic values. Moraes accused Musk of violating the free choice of the electorate by allowing the spread of false information. The decision to uphold the ban signals Brazil’s commitment to cracking down on social media platforms that do not comply with court orders. With one of the largest markets in Brazil at stake, Musk’s X faces significant challenges in the country. The ban is set to remain in place until X complies with Moraes’s order and pays outstanding fines of over $3 million.
Musk’s defiance of the ban and continued support for X has escalated tensions with Brazilian authorities. Starlink’s refusal to comply with the order to ban X could lead to further legal action and penalties. Musk’s involvement in the platform’s content moderation and promotion of controversial views has heightened scrutiny of X in Brazil. The ban threatens the platform’s ability to generate advertising revenue and maintain its user base. As the situation continues to unfold, the future of X in Brazil remains uncertain, as authorities and Musk’s companies remain at odds over the enforcement of the ban.
