A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has given Elon Musk 24 hours to appoint a legal representative in Brazil for X, formerly known as Twitter. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the ultimatum on Wednesday, threatening to shut down the company’s local operations if Musk fails to comply.
The order marks the latest episode in an ongoing conflict between X and de Moraes, who has clashed with the platform over issues such as free speech, “far-right”accounts, and so-called misinformation. Earlier this year, the company claimed it was being censored after de Moraes took action against it.
Earlier this month, X announced the immediate dismissal of its remaining staff in Brazil, following threats of arrest made against its legal representative by de Moraes.
The Supreme Court notified X of the latest order via a response to a post on the platform from the company’s global government affairs account. The court warned that non-compliance could lead to the suspension of X’s operations in the country.
The situation highlights the tension between Brazil’s more restrictive free speech laws and the broader protections offered under the U.S. Constitution. In April, de Moraes ordered investigations into Musk over the spread of defamatory fake news and other allegations, including incitement and obstruction.
Critics accuse de Moraes of overreach and political persecution.
