The court insisted that Musk hire a local representative, a requirement for all companies doing business in Brazil and designed to ensure that they conform to national regulations.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who issued the order, underscored the importance of adhering to this legal obligation. This decision marks a critical moment in the ongoing conflict between Elon Musk’s X and Brazilian authorities.

The court gave X a 24-hour deadline to comply with this requirement. When X failed to comply, Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, began blocking access to the platform on Saturday.

Musk, who took over X in 2022, claimed it was all about blocking free speech, although if every other foreign company had to appoint a local representative, it would have been difficult to see how this was the case.

On X, Musk posted, “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes."  

De Moraes emphasised the necessity of upholding legal standards and maintaining the rule of law. He pointed out that requiring a local representative is a common practice in many countries to ensure accountability for companies operating internationally. The court’s suspension of X will remain in effect until the platform meets this legal mandate.

Trouble started for X when Elon Musk decided to reactivate the accounts of former president Jair Bolsonaro supporters. Similar to Donald Trump, Bolsonaro is described as right to far-right or as a populist. His supporters also stormed government buildings after he lost the last election, and they called for a coup to install him, unsuccessfully.

While Musk has loosened speech restrictions on the site, he has also introduced some - such as banning the use of the term "cisgender".

Under Musk's leadership, X has also complied with the Indian Government's demand to withhold accounts critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Proving that it is not about the messenging, X rival Bluesky reports that it has gained a million new users towards the end of August and in early September since the ban. Bluesky is one of the popular alternatives in reaction to Elon Musk acquiring Twitter.