A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday suspended X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil after the social media platform’s owner Elon Musk refused to name a legal representative in the country.
On Wednesday, Justice Alexandre de Moraes had warned Musk that X faced a ban in Brazil if he failed to comply with an order to name a representative within 24 hours. The company reportedly hasn’t had a legal representative in Brazil since earlier this month.
The judge’s decision orders internet service providers and app stores to block access to X within five days. Businesses and individuals who attempt to access X using virtual private networks (VPNs) will be subjected to fines.
“Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country,” de Moraes wrote in his decision.