Brazil's Supreme Court Orders Elon Musk to Designate Legal Rep for X or Face Nationwide Suspension

Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil's Federal Supreme Court has given Elon Musk 24 hours to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil or face a suspension of the platform. The order follows actions against misinformation and comes amid ongoing investigations involving Musk.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, to appoint a legal representative in the country or face a nationwide suspension of the platform's operations.

Sharing the directive on its official X account, the Federal Supreme Court stated that should Musk fail to comply, X's activities in Brazil would be suspended. The court reiterated this stance on its official website, noting that the summons was also directed at the lawyer involved in previous proceedings, who was instructed to furnish the required information by August 18, 2024.

The directive arises in the context of Musk being investigated for alleged crimes including obstruction of justice, criminal organization, and incitement to crime under inquiry 4957. Earlier in the year, De Moraes ordered X to block accounts accused of disseminating false information, some of which were tied to supporters of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro. De Moraes emphasized that freedom of expression does not extend to spreading hate or defending tyranny.

(With inputs from agencies.)