Brazil's Supreme Court is gearing up for a crucial decision on Monday regarding the future of the social media platform X in the country. The court will deliberate whether to uphold or overturn the recent order by Justice Alexandre de Moraes to suspend X's operations nationwide.
The suspension stems from X's failure to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, a requirement set by local laws. On August 28, Justice de Moraes gave the platform a 24-hour window to comply, which X did not meet. Consequently, access to X was restricted in Brazil, marking one of its largest markets.
This legal tussle highlights the ongoing conflict between X and the Brazilian judiciary, primarily over the platform's resistance to removing accounts accused of disseminating misinformation and hate speech. Justice de Moraes, who is part of the court's first chamber, has been at odds with X for several months, particularly over the refusal to eliminate profiles allegedly inciting coups or destabilizing democratic processes.
The latest suspension order is supported by Chief Justice Luis Roberto Barroso, who emphasized that companies not adhering to Brazil's legal requirements cannot continue operating within the country. In addition to the suspension, the court has imposed fines totaling 18 million Real (approximately $3.2 million) on X for non-compliance.
Justice de Moraes justified the ban by pointing to X's persistent defiance of court directives, failure to settle fines, and the platform's alleged role in facilitating extremist groups in spreading harmful and anti-democratic content. This move comes at a critical time as Brazil prepares for its 2024 municipal elections, raising concerns about the impact of social media on the democratic process.
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Brazil's Supreme Court to vote on ban of social media platform X
cgtn.com
