Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, has moved to suspend access to Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, in Brazil. This decision comes in response to a court order issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, reflecting a long-standing feud between the billionaire investor and Brazilian authorities.
The immediate trigger for the suspension was X’s failure to meet a court-imposed deadline to appoint a legal representative in Brazil. The ruling comes as part of an ongoing legal battle where Musk has accused Justice de Moraes of overstepping his bounds and enforcing what he views as unjustified censorship. De Moraes, on the other hand, has argued that social media platforms need stricter regulations to curb hate speech and misinformation.
The situation has heightened tensions between Musk and Brazilian authorities. On Friday, Musk took to X to criticize the court’s decision, calling it an attack on free speech. “They’re shutting down the #1 source of truth in Brazil,” Musk posted, underscoring his belief that the suspension represents an infringement on the platform’s ability to operate freely.
As of late Friday, X remained accessible in Brazil, though reports indicated that access was beginning to be restricted. Major telecommunications carriers in Brazil announced plans to start blocking X from midnight (0300 GMT Saturday), following the court’s order. The suspension could significantly impact X, potentially costing it one of its largest markets just as it struggles with declining advertising revenue.
The feud between Musk and the Brazilian judiciary has also extended to SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink. This week, Brazilian authorities froze Starlink’s local bank accounts, compounding the conflict. In response, Starlink has asked the Supreme Court to lift the freeze, arguing compliance with all judicial orders, but this request was denied.
Justice de Moraes’s ruling includes a requirement for X to pay over $3 million in fines and to comply with all related court orders, including the appointment of a local representative as mandated by Brazilian law. Moraes also instructed Anatel to enforce the suspension, though the regulator has yet to specify a detailed timeline for implementation.
To effectively shut down X in Brazil, telecom companies must block the network’s traffic and prevent users from bypassing the ban using virtual private networks (VPNs). Moraes has ordered fines of up to 50,000 reais ($9,000) per day for those continuing to access X via VPNs. Initially, the court also instructed tech giants Apple and Google to remove X from their app stores and implement anti-VPN measures, but this part of the order was later reversed.
The power dynamics in Brazil are unique, with Supreme Court judges holding significant unilateral authority. Moraes has been supported by a majority of the court, including Chief Justice Roberto Barroso, in his stance against X. This support highlights the broader judicial consensus on the need for tighter regulation of social media platforms.
Musk, who also leads Tesla and holds a significant stake in SpaceX, has expressed strong opposition to the court’s orders. He has even referred to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as Moraes’s “lapdog,” further inflaming the situation. President Lula has insisted that all businesses, regardless of their financial power, must adhere to Brazilian laws, dismissing Musk’s criticism as unfounded.
The controversy underscores the global challenge of balancing free expression with regulatory measures to combat misinformation and hate speech. As the legal and political battle continues, the resolution of this conflict will likely have broader implications for how social media platforms are regulated worldwide.
