End of the line for Musk! This is because the recent order from the Minister of Supreme Federal Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraesbrings another chapter in the already tumultuous relationship between Elon Musk and the Brazilian Justice. In a move that can be described as “either give or take,” Moraes demanded that Musk, the billionaire owner of Twitter, now renamed “X,” present the platform’s new legal representative in Brazil within 24 hours. If Musk ignores the order, the social network could be blocked in Brazilian territory. While legal experts classify the subpoena as “atypical” and possibly illegal, X’s defense preferred to adopt the classic “we have no comment on ongoing cases.”
Anatel enters the field
If the X blockade really happens, the ball will be in the court of the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), which will be happy to inform telecommunications companies that they must cut off access to X. And not even Starlink, also owned by Musk and a satellite internet provider, will escape this. It is worth remembering that Starlink has already been pulled up on its ear recently, with Alexandre de Moraes ordering the blocking of its financial resources, in an attempt to guarantee payment of the fine that Musk seems reluctant to pay.
Although Anatel is not the head of digital platforms, it acts as the link between the Judiciary and telecommunications. If any company decides to play the brave and not comply with the blocking order, it will not be defying Anatel, but rather the STF itself, and the consequences will be as pleasant as you can imagine.
WhatsApp has already been blocked
This is not the first time that Brazil has ventured into blocking social networks. WhatsApp You already got a taste of it in 2015, when a judge in Teresina decided that the app should be taken offline for not cooperating with an investigation. Fortunately for users, this suspension was quickly overturned by a judge. Later that same year, WhatsApp ended up being blocked for 14 hours, courtesy of a Criminal Court in São Bernardo do Campo, until another injunction brought the app back to life.
Telegram also
Another one that didn’t escape Moraes’ radar was the Telegramwhich in 2022 was also in the sights of the STF. At the time, the platform was accused of being a true no man’s land, where fake news and crimes ran wild. Moraes, never shy in his decisions, ordered the suspension of the application, but, in the end, Telegram managed to avoid the worst.
These episodes only reinforce the complexity of balancing the scales between the Brazilian justice system and the technology giants. The soap opera involving Elon Musk, Twitter, and Alexandre de Moraes promises new and exciting chapters, and who knows, maybe one day, a solution that pleases everyone.
Summary for those in a hurry:
- Alexandre de Moraes, minister of the STF, ordered Elon Musk to inform the new legal representative of X in Brazil within 24 hours, under risk of suspension of the platform.
- Anatel will be responsible for implementing the suspension, triggering internet service providers, including Starlink, to block X.
- Starlink, also owned by Musk, has already had its financial resources frozen by court order.
- Anatel does not regulate digital platforms, but facilitates communication between the Judiciary and telecommunications companies.
- WhatsApp and Telegram have already faced threats of blocking in Brazil for failing to comply with court orders.
- The decision to suspend X could set new precedents in the regulation of digital platforms in Brazil.
Source: Atrevida
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
