Brazil’s Supreme Court is set to vote on Monday to determine the fate of the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, after it was suspended in the country over the weekend.
The suspension followed the platform’s failure to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil before a court-imposed deadline.
Justice Alexandre Moraes, who ordered the suspension, has called for a full court vote to decide whether to uphold or overturn his ruling. The Supreme Court, comprising 11 justices, is divided into two chambers of five members each, excluding the chief justice.
Justice Moraes is a member of the first chamber, which will review his decision.
The suspension of X marks the latest development in a feud between Justice Moraes and the platform’s owner, Elon Musk.
The conflict began in April when Justice Moraes ordered the suspension of dozens of accounts on X for allegedly spreading disinformation, many of which were linked to supporters of former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro.
Reacting to the suspension, Musk condemned the ruling, stating, “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes.” Musk’s comments have intensified the already heated debate surrounding the balance between free speech and the regulation of online content in Brazil.
Justice Moraes, in his ruling, has given tech giants Apple and Google a five-day deadline to remove X from their app stores and block its use on iOS and Android devices. He also warned that individuals or businesses caught accessing X via virtual private networks (VPNs) could face fines of R$50,000 ($8,910; £6,780).
The dispute over X comes at a time of heightened scrutiny of social media platforms in Brazil, particularly in the context of political disinformation.
The platform, which closed its office in Brazil last month, had described the orders to block accounts as “censorship” and argued that they were illegal under Brazilian law. X cited concerns over threats of arrest against its former legal representative in Brazil as a factor in the closure.
Brazil remains one of the largest markets for Musk’s social media network, making the potential ban a significant blow to the platform’s global presence.
As the Supreme Court prepares to vote, the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the regulation of social media and the ongoing battle over free speech in Brazil.
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