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Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered billionaire Elon Musk on Wednesday to designate a legal representative for his social media platform X in Brazil within 24 hours.
Failure to comply with this order could result in the platform’s suspension across the country.
The decision follows recent tensions between Musk’s company and Brazilian authorities. Earlier this month, X, formerly known as Twitter, announced plans to close its operations and dismiss its staff in Brazil.
The company cited “censorship orders” from Moraes as the primary reason for its decision, though it assured users that the platform would remain accessible in Brazil despite the operational shutdown.
The Supreme Court, in a bold move, posted a screenshot of Moraes’ ruling on its official X account, directly tagging Elon Musk and X’s Global Government Affairs accounts. The court’s action highlights the growing clash between Brazil’s legal system and Musk’s platform, which has increasingly found itself at odds with governmental regulations in various countries.
Justice Moraes, known for his firm stance on enforcing Brazil’s laws concerning internet regulation, emphasized that companies operating in the country must adhere to local legislation.
The decision specifically referenced Brazil’s law governing internet-related activities, noting that any company failing to comply with these regulations or the confidentiality of private information could face temporary suspension of its services within the country.
Moraes’ ruling is the latest in a series of legal challenges Musk’s X has encountered since the billionaire’s acquisition of the platform. The order to appoint a legal representative in Brazil underscores the country’s insistence on maintaining oversight of international tech giants operating within its borders.
As of this writing, X has not responded to the court’s order, and no official statement has been released by the company. Requests for comment sent outside regular working hours remain unanswered.
The outcome of this legal standoff could have significant implications for X’s future in Brazil, a key market in Latin America.
Should the platform be suspended, it would mark a critical escalation in the ongoing conflict between global tech companies and national governments seeking to enforce their legal frameworks in the digital realm.
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