Brazil judge orders shutdown of X social network; Elon Musk furious
Elon Musk's X social media network in Brazil after the billionaire failed to comply with an order to name a new legal representative for the company.
Musk has been locked in a months-long feud with the judge, Alexandre de Moraes, who is leading a battle against disinformation in South America's largest nation.
Moraes ordered the «immediate, complete and comprehensive suspension of the operation of 'X Brasil Internet LTDA' in the national territory.»
He ordered the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to «adopt all necessary measures to implement» the order within 24 hours.
He also asked Google, Apple, and internet providers to «introduce technological obstacles capable of preventing the use of the X application» and access to the website.
The social media platform formally known as Twitter has more than 22 million users in Brazil.
Musk, who also owns Tesla and SpaceX, reacted with fury, branding Moraes an «evil dictator cosplaying as a judge» and accusing him of «trying to destroy democracy in Brazil.»
«Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes,» the billionaire, who has become increasingly aligned with right-wing politics, wrote on X.
Musk shut X's business operations in Brazil earlier this month, claiming Moraes had threatened the company's previous legal representative with arrest to force compliance with «censorship orders.»
On Wednesday, Moraes told Musk «to appoint the company's new legal representative in Brazil
