2024-08-30 22:08:47
A Brazilian judge demanded that Elon Musk, the owner of the social network, appoint a legal representative in the country or risk being banned in the region. Which you write.
The ax has fallen. This Friday, the justice of Brazil announced that it will suspend the social network X in the country. At the origin of this unexpected suspension, Judge Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court. The latter have given Elon Musk, the owner of X, 24 hours to appoint a legal representative of the company in the country under penalty of “Immediate suspension of social network services”mention of his order was made public on Thursday. The next day, the Starlink satellite company, which is also owned by Musk, revealed that it was Judge Moraes. “Order to freeze your financial assets” in Brazil.
Despite these warnings, nothing happened. The billionaire refused to comply with the judge’s request, claiming on the platform that this is an attack on the freedom of the social network. Already on August 17, it announced the closure of the X offices in Brazil, while leaving the service available to the 22 million Brazilian users of the platform (according to the site DataReportal).
Alexandre de Moraes therefore ordered, this Friday, the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to“take all necessary measures” for this suspension to be effective within 24 hours in the largest country in Latin America, AFP said. He also asked tech giants Google and Apple, as well as internet service providers, to“indicates strong technical barriers to prevent the use of material X” and access to websites. Finally, people who are used to “Knowledge of subterfuges» to circumvent the ban, such as using virtual private networks (VPN), risk a fine of up to 50,000 reais (around 8,000 euros) per day.
The suspension will remain in effect until the social network complies with the decisions of the Brazilian courts, pays the fines imposed on it and appoints a legal representative, according to the decision made on Friday.
Elon Musk opposes “political incentives”
In a series of tweets, Elon Musk responded by saying “Political motivations.” “Freedom of expression is the basis of democracy and the unelected so-called judge in Brazil is destroying it for political reasons. The tyrannical government of Brazil is so afraid of people who learn the truth that it will kill anyone who tries.”he added. And to continue by attacking Democrats running for President: “The attacks on free speech this year are unprecedented in the 21st century. This will also happen in America if it is Kamala Harris and Tim Walz rose to power. “ A little earlier today, Boss of X also shared a photo montage, where he described the judge as “son of Voldemort and the Sith knight”A reference to the villains of the Harry Potter and Star Wars sagas.
The president of Brazil, Lula, tweeted on August 29 where he listed several competing platforms where you can see his official communications, such as Bluesky, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, TikTok and Facebook. Take the possibility of suspension much more seriously than the tech mogul.
A standoff called in April
The standoff between Judge Moraes and Musk has been ongoing since last April. Alexandre de Moraes, who decided to fight against information in the country, then opened an investigation against the boss of X, accusing him of having reactivated accounts of the suspension system imposed by Brazil for your delay. Among them, many supporters of former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro.
X eventually admitted that users of many blocked accounts had managed to circumvent the restrictions. Especially the accounts of conservative figures such as Senator Marcos do Val, former partner of Jair Bolsonaro, according to the national police. But Elon Musk has continued to defend his social network and the freedom of expression he prides himself on. Since the man bought the late Twitter, moderate groups have decreased significantly and the billionaire opposes any “blame” sometimes violent news to the political forces of countries.
Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes.
EVARISTO SA / AFP
The term “digital forces”
This is not the first time that Elon Musk has been the subject of an investigation in Brazil. It is also suspected, in the affairs of “Digital Soldiers”of using public money to develop information campaigns in favor of Jair Bolsonaro and those close to him.
X is not the only one that has been banned in Brazil. Telegram’s encrypted messaging service, in the spotlight since the arrest of its founder Pavel Dourov in France last Saturday, has been temporarily blocked twice, in 2022 and 2023. Telegram has also refused to use legal procedures.
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