The social network X, formerly known as Twitter, is facing a hefty new fine in Brazil after appearing to defy a ban ordered by a judge. Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered X to remove access to its website after the service was restored despite a judge’s ban, or face a daily fine of more than $900,000. X stated that the return of its service was “inadvertent and temporary”, but the government accused the company of deliberately violating the suspension order. Judge Alexandre de Moraes has ordered a daily fine of 5 million reais ($913,000) until X obeys the order to suspend its service. With over 22 million users in Brazil, the suspension has sparked debate on freedom of expression and the limits of social networks.
The ban on X in Brazil is not an isolated incident, as the social media platform has faced bans in other countries as well. China was the first country to ban the platform in June 2009, two days before the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Venezuela also ordered a 10-day block of X last month over a disputed presidential vote, leading to further political tensions. In Brazil, the ban on X came after supporters of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, fueled by false claims of electoral fraud, stormed the National Congress. The Brazilian Supreme Court issued an order for X and other social media platforms to restrict accounts linked to fake news and hate speech.
In January 2023, the Brazilian Supreme Court issued an order for X to block accounts spreading misinformation. In April, Judge de Moraes asked X to block several accounts spreading fake news about Bolsonaro’s defeat in the 2022 general election. Elon Musk, the founder of X, refused to comply and removed the company’s legal representative in Brazil in protest, leading to the current ban. Under Brazilian law, foreign companies conducting business in Brazil are required to have a legal representative in the country to act as a liaison with local authorities. X’s history of problems includes facing bans in China and Venezuela as well.
The ban on X in Brazil has led to a debate on freedom of expression and the limits of social networks. The government accuses X of deliberately violating the suspension order, while X claims the return of its service was accidental and temporary. The National Telecommunications Agency has identified a mechanism to block the service again, as new software allows the app to use constantly changing identifying IP addresses, making it harder to block. Judge de Moraes has also ruled that using technological subterfuges, such as VPNs, to access the blocked site could lead to fines of up to $9,000.
In response to the ban, X has faced criticism and legal challenges in Brazil. The company’s refusal to comply with orders to block accounts spreading fake news and misinformation has led to fines and the freezing of its assets in the country. The ban on X in Brazil comes amid political tensions and concerns over the spread of disinformation on social media platforms. The future of X in Brazil remains uncertain as the company faces fines and legal challenges for defying court orders to suspend its service.
