Brazil's Supreme Court is set to vote on Monday to decide whether to maintain or overturn the recent ruling by Justice Alexandre de Moraes to suspend the social media platform X across the country. This move follows X's failure to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, a requirement mandated by local law.

The decision to block X came after de Moraes gave the company 24 hours on August 28 to designate a representative, a directive that was not complied with. Subsequently, in the early hours of August 31, access to X was restricted in Brazil, one of its largest markets.

This action is part of an ongoing conflict between the platform and the Brazilian judiciary over X's refusal to comply with court orders, including the removal of accounts allegedly involved in spreading misinformation and hate speech.

De Moraes, a member of the court's first chamber, has been at odds with X for several months over the platform's refusal to remove profiles accused of promoting content related to coups or undermining democratic processes. The judge's latest order was backed by Chief Justice Luis Roberto Barroso, who said that a company unwilling to follow Brazil's legal requirements cannot operate within the country.

In addition to the suspension, the court has also imposed fines amounting to 18 million Real (approximately $3.2 million) on X for its non-compliance. De Moraes justified the ban by citing the platform's persistent defiance of court orders, failure to pay fines, and its alleged role in enabling extremist groups to spread harmful and anti-democratic content, particularly as Brazil prepares for its 2024 municipal elections.

(With input from Reuters)