RIO DE JANEIRO — A Brazilian Supreme Court panel has upheld the decision of one of its justices to block billionaire Elon Musk’s social media platform X nationwide, according to the court’s website.
The broader support among justices deals a blow to Musk and his supporters who have sought to characterize Justice Alexandre de Moraes as a renegade and authoritarian censor of political speech.
The panel is comprised of five of the full bench’s 11 justices, including de Moraes, who last Friday ordered the platform blocked for having failed to name a local legal representative, as required by law. X will remain blocked until it complies with his orders and pays outstanding fines that as of last week exceeded $3 million, according to his decision.
De Moraes’ also set a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($8,900) for people or companies using virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access X. Some legal experts questioned the grounds for that decision and how it would be enforced, including Brazil’s bar association, which said it would request the Supreme Court review that provision.
But the majority of the panel on Monday upheld both the block and VPN fine — with one justice opposing the latter, unless users are shown to be using X to commit crimes.
Brazil is one of the biggest markets for X, with tens of millions of users. And its block marked a dramatic escalation in a monthslong feud between Musk and de Moraes over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation.
In a recent decision, a panel of judges from the Brazil Supreme Court confirmed a lower court judge’s ruling to block X across the country. The decision comes after months of legal battles and controversy surrounding the use of X in Brazil.
The ruling to block X was initially made by Judge Maria Silva in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of activists who argued that the use of X was harmful to public health and the environment. The activists presented evidence showing that X had been linked to various health problems, including respiratory issues and cancer.
The decision to block X was met with mixed reactions from the public. While some praised the move as a necessary step to protect public health, others criticized it as an overreach of government power. Proponents of X argued that it was an essential tool for various industries and that banning it would have negative economic consequences.
The case made its way to the Brazil Supreme Court, where a panel of judges reviewed the lower court’s decision. After considering all the evidence presented, the panel ultimately decided to uphold the ruling to block X across the country.
The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for various industries in Brazil. Companies that rely on X will need to find alternative solutions, while consumers may see changes in the products they use on a daily basis.
Overall, the confirmation of the judge’s decision to block X highlights the importance of balancing economic interests with public health and environmental concerns. It serves as a reminder that regulations and restrictions are necessary to protect the well-being of society as a whole.
