Big news from Brazil! 🇧🇷 The Supreme Court is gearing up to vote on Monday whether to keep the social media platform X banned across the country. This follows the platform's failure to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, a move that's required by local law.
Back on August 28, Justice Alexandre de Moraes gave X a 24-hour deadline to designate a representative. When the platform didn't comply, access to X was restricted in Brazil starting the early hours of August 31. 🚫📱
This isn't just a one-time clash. The battle between X and the Brazilian judiciary has been heating up over the past few months. The court has been pushing X to remove accounts accused of spreading misinformation and hate speech, especially those linked to content about coups or undermining democratic processes.
Justice de Moraes, a key figure in the court's first chamber, has been at odds with X, and his latest order has the backing of Chief Justice Luis Roberto Barroso. Barroso emphasized that companies unwilling to follow Brazil's legal requirements simply can't operate in the country.
On top of the suspension, X is facing hefty fines totaling 18 million Real (about $3.2 million) for not complying with the court's orders. De Moraes isn't backing down, citing the platform's persistent defiance and its alleged role in enabling extremist groups to spread harmful content as Brazil gears up for its 2024 municipal elections. 🗳️⚖️
