Access to X Blocked in Brazil... Musk Warns "Same Could Happen in US if Harris Wins"

Supreme Court Justice: "Responsible for Creating a Lawless Environment"
Musk: "A Dictator Pretending to Be a Judge"

On the 31st (local time), Brazil blocked access to X (formerly Twitter), a social networking service (SNS) platform owned by Elon Musk (photo).

The access block followed an order from the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court the previous day, holding the Brazilian broadcasting and telecommunications regulatory agency responsible for creating a lawless environment and instructing it to block access to X.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes stated, "X has repeatedly and consciously ignored the Brazilian judicial system," and "is responsible for creating a lawless environment in Brazil," deciding on an immediate and complete service block. He also ordered the removal of X from app stores and imposed a fine of 50,000 reais (approximately 12 million KRW) for individuals and companies caught bypassing the block using virtual private networks (VPNs).

The confrontation between the Brazilian courts and Musk began in April when the Brazilian Supreme Court ordered X to block certain accounts. This was due to the so-called "digital militias," accused of spreading fake news and hate messages during former President Jair Bolsonaro's administration, which contained unconstitutional elements, and the court ordered the blocking of related accounts that "caused social unrest."

Musk strongly opposed the court's decision. Over the past few months, he has refused to comply with orders related to X's operation, leading to conflicts with the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court. On X, he targeted Justice de Moraes, calling him "an evil dictator pretending to be a judge" and accusing him of "trying to destroy democracy in Brazil."

He argued, "Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes."

He also claimed that if Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for Vice President in this year's U.S. presidential election, wins, X would face a similar situation in the United States.

He said, "The attack on press freedom is unprecedented in the 21st century. If Kamala and Walz (Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate) come to power, the same thing will happen in the U.S. as well."