Brazil Blocks Elon Musk's X Platform After Supreme Court Order

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Brazil began blocking access to Elon Musk's social media platform, X, on Saturday following a controversial Supreme Court order. The suspension, issued by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, comes after a standoff over the platform's refusal to comply with certain legal demands, including the appointment of a new representative in Brazil.

Musk, who has been vocal about his commitment to free speech, criticized the ruling, arguing that it undermines democratic principles. He expressed concern that the court's actions are politically motivated, aimed at suppressing speech and silencing dissent.

The tension arose when Moraes demanded that X take action against accounts linked to disinformation, particularly those supporting former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Musk's platform, with over 22 million users in Brazil, has faced increasing scrutiny for its content moderation policies, especially under Musk's ownership.

Despite the court's order, Musk has defended his stance on free speech, stating that open dialogue is essential for democracy. The order to block X includes strict enforcement measures, instructing tech giants like Google and Apple to prevent access, and imposing fines for those attempting to bypass the block.