The judge has ordered the complete and immediate suspension of X’s presence in the country until X has complied with all relevant court orders.
A Brazilian Supreme Court judge on Friday ordered the “immediate suspension” of social media platform X in the country after a court-given deadline for the company to identify a legal representative in Brazil expired.
The move is the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Elon Musk, which also includes the freezing of satellite internet provider Starlink’s financial accounts in Brazil.
In the decision, de Moraes ordered the complete and immediate suspension of X’s operations in the country until X complies with all relevant court orders, including paying a fine of 18.5 million reais ($3.28 million) and nominating a legal representative in Brazil.
De Moraes ordered telecoms regulator Anatel to implement the suspension order and confirm to the court within 24 hours that it had implemented the suspension order.
Addressing the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the blocking, de Moraes said individuals or companies that try to maintain access to the social network in this way could face fines of up to 50,000 reais ($8,900) per day.
X said on Thursday it expected Supreme Court judges to order the company’s closure “soon,” as a court deadline for the company to identify a legal representative in Brazil had expired.
Earlier this year, de Moraes ordered X to block some accounts that were part of an investigation into so-called digital militias accused of spreading distorted news and hate.
Musk called the order censorship and shut down the platform’s offices in Brazil. X, formerly known as Twitter, said at the time that its services would still be available in Brazil.
Amid the ongoing dispute over X, Brazil’s Supreme Court also blocked the local bank accounts of the Starlink satellite internet firm, which Musk owns 40 percent of, leading the company to ask the court on Friday to suspend that decision.
