Elon Musk’s X Social Network Blocked in Brazil
[Photo by Mati Mango on Pexels. The X symbol has replaced the Twitter Logo. The service is currently blocked in Brazil.]
A government-enforced block on Elon Musk’s X social network (formerly known as Twitter) started to take effect in Brazil early this morning after a Supreme Court judge ordered its suspension, according to the latest reports from AFP.
Background
Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of the platform following an ongoing standoff with tech billionaire Elon Musk over disinformation in South America’s largest nation. According to the judge’s order, a ban will be in effect until X names a new legal representative in the country and pays fines for violating Brazilian law.
Conflict Escalates
Musk, who also owns Tesla and SpaceX, reacted with fury to the judge’s order, branding Moraes an "evil dictator cosplaying as a judge" and accusing him of "trying to destroy democracy in Brazil." He is a vocal supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s bid to regain the White House.
Moraes ordered the "immediate, complete and comprehensive suspension of the operation of" X in the country, telling the national communications agency to take "all necessary measures" to implement the order within 24 hours. He threatened a fine equivalent to US $8,900 to anyone who uses technology such as Virtual Private Networks to get around the ban.
Consequences
X’s social media platform has more than 22 million users in Brazil. The standoff with Musk began when Moraes ordered the suspension of several X accounts belonging to supporters of Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who tried to discredit the voting system in the 2022 election, which he lost. Brazilian authorities are investigating whether Bolsonaro plotted a coup attempt to prevent current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming office in January 2023.
Reactions
Musk’s satellite internet operator, Starlink, said it had received an order from Moraes that froze its accounts and prevented it from conducting financial transactions in Brazil. Starlink responded that the order is unfair, because Starlink is a completely different company that had no direct connection with X. Musk is also the subject of a separate judicial investigation into an alleged scheme in which public money was used to orchestrate disinformation campaigns in favor of Bolsonaro and those close to him.
Conclusion
The conflict between Elon Musk’s X social network and Brazilian authorities highlights the complex issue of disinformation in the digital age. While X claims to prioritize free speech, Moraes sees the platform as a source of disinformation that threatens democracy in Brazil.
FAQs
- Q: Why was X blocked in Brazil?
A: X was blocked in Brazil due to a Supreme Court judge’s order, which suspended the platform until it names a new legal representative in the country and pays fines for violating Brazilian law. - Q: What is the background of the conflict?
A: The conflict started when Moraes ordered the suspension of several X accounts belonging to supporters of Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who tried to discredit the voting system in the 2022 election. - Q: How did Elon Musk react to the judge’s order?
A: Musk reacted with fury, branding Moraes an "evil dictator cosplaying as a judge" and accusing him of "trying to destroy democracy in Brazil."
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