The social networking platform X is facing a hefty new fine in Brazil after it appeared to defy a ban ordered by a judge. The Supreme Court in Brazil has ordered X, formerly known as Twitter, to remove access to its website or face a daily fine of over $900,000. The platform was banned last month as part of a crackdown on disinformation but access was restored, leading to the fine. The government accused X of deliberately violating the suspension order. The platform, with over 22 million users in Brazil, claimed the service return was “inadvertent and temporary”.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes has ruled that X must obey the order to suspend its service or face the fine. Not complying with the ban could result in fines for users using technological subterfuges such as VPNs. X has a history of being banned in countries like China and Venezuela for various reasons. In Brazil, the ban was issued after supporters of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro spread false claims of electoral fraud, leading to a storming of the National Congress.
The ban has sparked a debate on freedom of expression and the limits of social networks. X has been ordered to block accounts accused of spreading misinformation but has refused, leading to the current situation. The platform’s owner, Elon Musk, has also reportedly removed X’s legal representative in Brazil in protest of the ban. The National Telecommunications Agency hopes to find a way to block the service again. The situation highlights the challenges social media platforms face in different countries regarding misinformation and freedom of speech.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
