Aug 29, 2024 - Business

Judge threatens to shut down X in Brazil

Rebecca Falconer

Elon Musk speaks at The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Annual Hamptons Gala at Parrish Art Museum on August 24, 2024 in Water Mill, New York. — Elon Musk during an event in New York earlier this month. Photo: Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

A Brazil Supreme Court judge warned Elon Musk Wednesday that he would have X suspended in Latin America's largest nation if the billionaire didn't name a legal representative for the platform in the country within 24 hours.

The big picture: Justice Alexandre de Moraes' summons alerting Musk that X has until about 8pm local time Thursday (7pm ET) to comply with the order comes after the platform announced earlier this month that it would close its operations in Brazil over what it called the judge's "censorship orders."

Context: Brazilian officials have in recent months been cracking down on social media accounts that spread misinformation and hate speech.

Moraes announced in April that he was investigating Musk for obstruction of justice after the former X CEO vowed to defy a court order blocking certain accounts on his platform in Brazil.
Representatives for X did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment in the evening.

Go deeper: Big Tech defends free speech amid government pressure

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Judge threatens to shut down X in Brazil

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