Brazil has banned X, formerly known as Twitter, after the social media platform missed a deadline set by a Supreme Court judge to appoint a new legal representative in the country. Alexandre de Moraes ordered the “immediate and complete suspension” of the platform until it complies with all court orders and settles existing fines.

WHEN DID X DISPUTE START?

The dispute started in April when the judge ordered the suspension of dozens of X accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation. In response to the ruling, X owner Elon Musk said, “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.

It is the latest in a series of rows involving Mr Musk – he has clashed with the EU over the regulation of X and earlier this month became embroiled in a war of words with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

The head of Brazil’s telecommunications agency, which has been tasked with suspending the platform, said he is “proceeding with the compliance” to do so, according to Reuters news agency.

The platform is expected to be unavailable in the country within the next 24 hours.

Justice Moraes has given companies such as Apple and Google a five-day deadline to remove X from its application stores and block its use on iOS and Android systems.

STARLINK, MUSK’S BANK ACCOUNTS FROZEN

Brazil’s Supreme Court has also frozen the bank accounts of Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, following an earlier court order. In response, Starlink posted on X, stating that the “order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied—unconstitutionally—against X.” Musk also addressed the situation on X, emphasizing that “SpaceX and X are two completely different companies with different shareholders.”

Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk’s rocket company SpaceX, was approved to operate in Brazil in 2022 by the government of former President Bolsonaro. With Brazil being South America’s largest country, including its vast and remote regions in the Amazon, the country presents significant potential for Starlink, which specializes in providing internet services to isolated areas.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who issued the order, has gained attention for his decisions to restrict social media platforms in Brazil. He is also leading an investigation into former President Bolsonaro and his supporters over their involvement in an alleged coup attempt on January 8 of the previous year.

X is not the first social media platform to face scrutiny from Brazilian authorities. Telegram was temporarily banned last year for failing to block certain profiles as requested by the government. Meta’s messaging service, WhatsApp, also faced temporary bans in 2015 and 2016 for refusing to comply with police demands for user data.

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