On early Saturday, Brazil began blocking access to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, following an order from the Supreme Court. The decision to restrict the platform, owned by Elon Musk, came after X missed a deadline to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, leading to the suspension of the service.
In response to the suspension, X has launched a campaign against Justice Alexandre de Moraes, using an account named Alexandre Files to publicize the dispute. The account claims that the Supreme Court's order to block X is a violation of Brazilian law and has shared details about the court’s directives. According to recent posts, the order included demands for X to block several influential accounts critical of the government, including a Senator.
Here's the post:
For example, Moraes' August 8 order to X is in direct violation of Brazilian law. See the comparison for yourself 👇————————Por exemplo, a or dm de Moraes para a X do dia 8 de Agosto esta em violação frontal da lei brasileira👇 pic.twitter.com/yKVpfhK0Df
— Alexandre Files (@AlexandreFiles) August 31, 2024
Brazil's telecommunications regulator, Anatel, instructed internet service providers to cut off access to X, making it largely inaccessible on both web and mobile platforms starting at midnight local time. The move represents a significant escalation in the ongoing dispute between Elon Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Also read: Planning To Use VPN To Access X In Brazil? Supreme Court Says….
The ban's rationale centers on X's non-compliance with de Moraes’ order, which required the platform to name a legal representative in Brazil. This requirement was part of a broader effort to address issues related to free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation on the platform. De Moraes had given X a 24-hour deadline to comply, which the company failed to meet.
Justice de Moraes criticized Musk for his perceived disregard for Brazilian sovereignty and judicial authority, stating in his decision that Musk was acting as if he were "immune to the laws of each country."