The social media platform X is facing a suspension in Brazil due to its failure to meet a court-imposed 24-hour deadline. On Wednesday, a Brazilian Supreme Court judge warned that X could be shut down if CEO Elon Musk did not appoint a new legal representative for the platform’s operations in Brazil within the specified timeframe.
By Friday, X announced that it expects to be shut down in Brazil after missing the deadline. In a statement, X’s Global Government Affairs team indicated that Judge Alexandre de Moraes might order the platform’s suspension due to its refusal to comply with what it calls “illegal orders” to censor political opponents.
X stressed that while it does not expect other countries to adopt U.S. free speech laws, it cannot comply with Judge de Moraes’ demands to violate Brazilian laws. The company plans to publicly disclose “all of Judge de Moraes’ alleged illegal demands and related court filings” to maintain transparency and demonstrate its resistance to what it views as unlawful directives.
Earlier this month, Musk halted X’s business operations in Brazil but kept the platform accessible, accusing the judge of threatening the previous legal representative. Judge de Moraes, who is known for his efforts against disinformation in Brazil, issued the order, warning that non-compliance could lead to X’s suspension in the country.
Musk criticized Moraes, alleging that the judge is part of a broader assault on free speech. Moraes had previously ordered the suspension of several accounts linked to disinformation, including those associated with former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is implicated in disinformation schemes.
