A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has ordered that immediate suspension of social media platform X across the country, after the platform refused to appoint a new legal representative due to an ongoing dispute.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered internet providers and app stores to block X in Brazil within five days and imposed daily fines of 50,000 reais (nearly $9,000) on those using virtual private networks (VPNs) or other methods to access the platform.
The measure will remain in effect until the company complies with all court orders and pays all fines, it said. a release on the court’s website.
De Moraes ordered X on Wednesday to appoint a lawyer within 24 hours or risk a ban in Brazil.
The platform’s Global Government Affairs team said Thursday evening that it expected the judge to rule “soon” platform to be closed in the country “simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents.”
X closed its office in Brazil earlier this month after De Moraes ordered it to block certain accounts from the site. If the social media company failed to comply, the judge said he would fine the company $3,650 per day and order the arrest of its representative, Rachel Nova Conceicao.
“Freedom of speech is the foundation of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes,” said Elon Musk, the owner of X. wrote in a message on Friday.
“The oppressive regime in Brazil is so afraid of people learning the truth that they will bankrupt anyone who tries,” he added in a separate message.
The feud between Musk and Moraes dates back to April, when the billionaire tech mogul initially fought a court order to block certain accounts on his platform. Ultimately, however, X said it would abide by the rulings.
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