Refusal to comply with local laws suggests social media company ‘considered itself above the rule of law’, says judge

Members of Brazil’s supreme court have unanimously voted to uphold the ban on X, after Elon Musk’s refusal to comply with local laws led to the social network being blocked in one of its biggest markets.

On Monday, five of the court’s justices were asked to consider Friday’s decision to temporarily banish X from Brazil, where the platform has more than 21 million users. By lunchtime all five had voted in favour of the ban.

Casting his vote in favour of X’s continued suspension, Flávio Dino said the company’s decision to “deliberately” ignore a court order to name a legal representative in Brazil suggested it “considered itself above the rule of law”.

  • Sundial@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    8 months ago

    Even if it somehow gets reinstated, the damage is done. Majority have already left for alternatives.

      • ShinkanTrain@lemmy.mlEnglish
        1·
        8 months ago

        I guess all this block did was teach the Brazilian population how to use VPNs.

        ISPs have a period to comply with the order. Mine still hasn’t blocked the shitshow.

          • towerful@programming.devEnglish
            1·
            8 months ago

            The judge that banned X also stated a fine of 10k for anyone using a VPN to circumvent the ban.
            Difficult to police and enforce, but it’s been made clear that accessing X is considered illegal

              • Zron@lemmy.worldEnglish
                1·
                8 months ago

                You mean: when an X user finds themselves unable to load the main page, they’ll get frustrated, uninstall the app and leave a review about how it’s broken.

                You grossly overestimate the tech savvyness of your average internet user, and their willingness to spend any amount of time or money to fix a minor inconvenience.

              • deus@lemmy.worldEnglish
                1·
                8 months ago

                Yeah, I doubt most people will go this route. VPNs cost money, Twitter alternatives are free.

          • Virkkunen@fedia.io
            1·
            8 months ago

            “Musk […] passion for free speech is genuine”

            As long as it lines up with the right wing agenda, otherwise it’s woke bullshit that needs to be censored and banned, right?

            Delusional, both of you.

          • 100_kg_90_de_belin@feddit.itEnglish
            1·
            8 months ago

            However, I can recognize that his passion for free speech is genuine; otherwise, he wouldn’t have bought Twitter for $44

            You really make recoil in disgust at the depths of denial you can plunge to in order to stan a billionaire.