A Judge Orders the Blocking of X Network in Brazil and Musk Accuses Him of Pursuing "Political" Ends

A judge of the Supreme Court of Brazil ordered yesterday the suspension of the social network X, owned by Elon Musk, due to "repeated" non-compliance with court orders, in the latest clash between the magistrate and the magnate.

The judge, Alexandre de Moraes, a prominent figure in the fight against misinformation in Brazil, demands in his ruling to adopt "all necessary measures to implement the action" against Musk's company. Musk condemned the decision: "Freedom of speech is the foundation of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes." "They are shutting down the primary source of truth in Brazil," added the magnate, who called the magistrate an "evil dictator."

Moraes also requested Google, Apple, and internet service providers to "introduce technological obstacles capable of preventing the use of the X application" and access to its website. He warned that daily fines of 50,000 reais (9,000 dollars) would be imposed on individuals "who engage in behaviors involving the use of technological subterfuges" to circumvent the blockade.