Brazilian Supreme Court Blocks Elon Musk's X Amid Legal Dispute

A Brazilian Supreme Court Justice has ordered the suspension of Elon Musk's social media platform, X, over Musk's failure to appoint a legal representative in Brazil. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued a 24-hour compliance deadline and imposed fines for VPN usage. The ban further intensifies their ongoing feud over free speech and misinformation.

In a sweeping legal move, a Brazilian Supreme Court Justice has ordered tech mogul Elon Musk's social media platform, X, to be suspended in Brazil. This comes after Musk refused to appoint a legal representative in the country, escalating a heated dispute over free speech and misinformation.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes had stipulated a 24-hour window for compliance, threatening to block X otherwise. With the platform failing to comply, de Moraes has mandated internet service providers and app stores to block the app within five days, enforcing daily fines of 50,000 reais ($8,900) for accessing it via VPNs.

The suspension comes amid broader tension, as Musk accuses de Moraes of censorship while the Justice insists his actions are legal and legitimate. As around 40 million Brazilians use X monthly, the move is significant, and X warns users against perceived illegal demands from the judiciary.

(With inputs from agencies.)