The social media platform X was blocked in Brazil starting Saturday due to a prolonged dispute between X owner Elon Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court.
The court’s order for an immediate suspension followed Musk’s failure to name a legal representative by the deadline set by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
This shutdown rendered X largely inaccessible on both web and mobile platforms, affecting millions of users in Brazil, a significant market for X.
The conflict intensified earlier this month when X closed its Brazilian office after de Moraes mandated the removal of certain posts.
The judge had threatened a daily fine of $3,650 and an arrest warrant for X’s representative, Rachel Nova Conceicao, if the platform did not comply.
Last week, as the feud reached a peak, de Moraes threatened to shut down X in Brazil.
Musk responded by criticizing de Moraes as an “evil dictator cosplaying as a judge.”
The following day, de Moraes instructed internet service providers and app stores to block X within five days and imposed daily fines of 50,000 reais (nearly $9,000) for those using VPNs to bypass the block.
The order will remain in effect until X adheres to all court directives and settles the fines.
Musk criticized the move as an attack on free speech and accused the Brazilian regime of trying to suppress truth.
X users in Brazil have reported feeling disconnected and frustrated, with some expressing difficulties finding alternative social media platforms.
Legal experts and the Brazilian Bar Association have questioned the legality and fairness of the fines and enforcement, with the Bar Association calling for a review of the sanctions.
