BRAZIL started blocking Elon Musk’s social media platform X early on Saturday, making it largely inaccessible on both the web and through its mobile app after the company refused to comply with a judge’s order.

X missed a deadline imposed by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to name a legal representative in Brazil, triggering the suspension. 

It marks an escalation in the dispute between Mr Musk and Justice de Moraes over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation.

As of Saturday at midnight local time, major operators began suspending users’ access to X.

Mr De Moraes had warned Mr Musk on Wednesday night that X could be blocked in Brazil if he failed to comply with his order to name a representative, and established a 24-hour deadline. 

Justice de Moraes wrote in his decision on Friday: “Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity [who is] immune to the laws of each country.” 

The judge said the platform will stay suspended until it complies with his orders, and also set a daily fine of 50,000 reais (£7,800) for people or companies using VPNs to access it.

Mr Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has repeatedly insulted Mr de Moraes on his platform, characterising him as a dictator and tyrant.