Brazil's three major telecom operators shut down the X platform at midnight on August 30

Brazil's three major telecom operators will block US tech giant Elon Musk's social media platform X from midnight on Friday (11am Singapore time on Wednesday).

Brazilian news website UOL quoted Carlos Baigorri, chairman of Brazil's national communications agency Anatel, as saying on Friday, Telecom Italian-backed TIM Brasil, Telefonica Brasil, the Brazilian subsidiary of Telefonica, and Claro, the Brazilian subsidiary of America Movil, notified that they would shut down X from midnight on August 30.

After Musk defied Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes' "ultimatum" to appoint a legal representative for X in Brazil, Moraes, who has spearheaded the fight against fake news and hate speech in Brazil, ordered the immediate closure of X, blocking access to X for the country's 200 million people until X complied with all relevant court orders. This includes the payment of a fine of R $18.5 million and the appointment of a legal representative in Brazil to oversee operations in Brazil.

"We have the right to defend fundamental rights," Moraes said. Those who violate democracy and violate basic human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable."

Brazil's National Communications Authority announced on August 30 that it would shut down X in accordance with an order from a Supreme Court justice. In a post on the same day, Musk slammed Brazil's unelected "pseudo-judges" for suspending X as politically motivated and endangering democracy.