Elon Musk’s social media platform X continues to face challenges as Brazil’s Supreme Court upholds a ban – which has been in effect since Saturday – on the service within the country. The decision comes amidst a series of setbacks for X, including plummeting investor value.
Brazil’s supreme court upholds ban
The Brazilian Supreme Court has ruled that X must be blocked in the country, citing concerns over misinformation and for failing to appoint a legal representative for the social media platform in the country. The decision was unanimous, and the court has threatened to impose hefty fines on those who do not comply.
Regulatory scrutiny intensifies
Brazilian regulators are also taking a hard line against Musk and his companies. The country’s telecoms regulator has threatened to sanction Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service, for refusing to comply with the X ban.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also backed the top court’s Judge’s decision to suspend X. He told reporters late Monday that the “world is not obliged to put up with Musk’s far-right ideology just because he is rich,” per a Wall Street Journal translation.
X’s future in Brazil uncertain
The future of X in Brazil remains uncertain. With the platform blocked and facing regulatory pressure, it is unclear whether Musk will be able to restore the service in the country. The outcome of this dispute could have broader implications for social media platforms and their responsibilities to combat misinformation and hate speech.
Musk escalates rhetoric
In response to the challenges, Musk has escalated his rhetoric against the Brazilian government. “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes,” Musk said on X Friday.
He has called for an end to U.S. foreign aid to Brazil and threatened to seize Brazilian government assets. These actions have further strained relations between Musk and Brazilian authorities.
Investors’ losses mount
Meanwhile, just two years after a group of high-profile investors backed Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter (now X), their investments have plummeted by as much as 72%, according to a Washington Post analysis.
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison have each lost an estimated $720 million, while Musk and his other co-investors have collectively lost more than $24 billion.
