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X, formerly Twitter, has been banned in Brazil after failing to comply with a Supreme Court order to appoint a legal representative and pay fines related to disinformation. The decision follows accusations against accounts linked to former President Jair Bolsonaro, highlighting ongoing tensions between tech companies and regulatory authorities.

X, previously known as Twitter, has been banned in Brazil after failing to adhere to a Supreme Court ruling. Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the "immediate and complete suspension" of the platform until it appoints a new legal representative in the country and settles existing fines related to disinformation.

The situation escalated in April when Moraes ordered the suspension of multiple X accounts accused of disseminating false information, particularly those associated with former President Jair Bolsonaro. With approximately 20 million users in Brazil, many reported losing access to the platform by Saturday.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, reacted to the ban by stating that “free speech is the bedrock of democracy” and accused the judge of political bias. His comments underline his ongoing conflicts with regulatory bodies worldwide, including previous disputes with the European Union.

The Brazilian telecommunications agency is working to enforce the ban, giving tech giants like Apple and Google a five-day deadline to remove X from their app stores. Users attempting to access the platform through VPNs could face fines of R$50,000 (£6,700).

Justice Moraes is known for his strict actions against social media platforms, and this latest decision emphasizes the increasing scrutiny tech companies are experiencing in Brazil. X now joins platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, which have faced similar restrictions in the past.