Why in news
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has been investigating far-right groups and supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, known as "digital militias."
These groups used social media to spread disinformation and incite violence after Bolsonaro's loss in the 2022 elections, leading to the January 8, 2023 riots.
The Court viewed the riots as an attack on democracy and asked Moraes to investigate.
He ordered X to suspend accounts spreading disinformation and provide information for prosecution.
X's Defiance
Elon Musk, X's owner, refused to comply with Moraes's demands and even reactivated suspended accounts.
Moraes brought Musk under his investigation, leading to a public dispute.
Moraes threatened X's legal representative and imposed daily fines for non-compliance.
In April, Musk announced the closure of X's Brazilian operations but continued providing services.
Moraes gave X 24 hours to appoint a legal representative, which it ignored.
The Supreme Court ordered the immediate suspension of X's operations in Brazil due to non-compliance.
A fine of 50,000 reals per day was imposed on anyone accessing X using a VPN.
The case raises questions about Brazil's right to regulate foreign companies.
The ban highlights the balance between curbing disinformation and protecting free speech.
The incident has implications for international internet governance.
The case shows how social media can be used for political purposes.
Some view Moraes's actions as judicial overreach, while others believe they were necessary to protect democracy.
Impact
Many Brazilians migrated to alternative platforms like Bluesky.
Musk's other company, Starlink, initially resisted but eventually complied with the ban.
Five justices of the Supreme Court have endorsed the ban.
COMMENTS