Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Daily Fines on X for Disobeying Suspension
In a decisive move against the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered a staggering fine of five million Brazilian reals (approximately 830,000 euros) per day due to the platform's unauthorized accessibility within the country. This ruling, issued by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, follows the platform's suspension on August 30, aimed at combating disinformation. Judge Moraes accused Elon Musk's company of intentionally flouting the Brazilian judicial system, stating that the platform's actions demonstrate a deliberate strategy to circumvent the court's orders.
The Brazilian telecommunications agency, Anatel, announced that thanks to collaboration with telecommunications operators and the cybersecurity firm Cloudflare, they have identified methods to reinforce the suspension of X's services. The agency emphasized that it would take further measures should the platform attempt to bypass the suspension again. This situation has ignited a fierce debate over the balance between freedom of expression and the need to mitigate disinformation on social media platforms in Brazil.
- ## Users Experience Mixed Access to X Amid Court Suspension Despite the Supreme Court's suspension, some Brazilian users were surprised to find they could still access X on Wednesday, leading to confusion and frustration. Reports indicated that while some users were able to use the old Twitter mobile app via cellular data and Wi-Fi, others remained blocked. The Supreme Court is currently investigating these reports, suggesting that the access might be due to instability in the enforcement of the suspension across different networks. The hashtag 'Twitter is back' trended on social media, reflecting the mixed sentiments among users. However, the National Telecommunications Agency reiterated that there has been no change to the court's decision regarding the suspension. The platform's reinstatement has sparked significant discourse in Brazil, where X had approximately 22 million users before the suspension. The controversy has drawn reactions from various political factions, with Elon Musk labeling Judge Moraes a 'dictator' and former President Jair Bolsonaro's supporters criticizing the ruling, while the current government under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has backed the court's decision.
