Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Brazil has blocked access to the social platform X (formerly Twitter) following a standoff between Elon Musk, the platform’s owner, and the Brazilian Supreme Court.

What’s the deal: The issue between X and Brazil’s top judge, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, revolves around the platform’s refusal to comply with his court orders. De Moraes has ordered the removal of content and accounts he believes are spreading “misinformation and disinformation,” targeting many supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. After X’s refusal, de Moraes threatened to imprison X’s legal representative in Brazil, prompting the company to close its office. This led to de Moraes demanding a replacement, with the ultimatum that the app could be shut down if X did not comply.

What happened today: App stores and telecom companies in Brazil have been ordered to block access to X. In response, searches for VPNs surged, suggesting that many Brazilians plan to bypass the ban despite the threat of a $9,000 fine for those caught using a VPN.

X’s argument: X claims that the orders to remove certain accounts or content violate Brazil’s laws, especially those safeguarding free speech and due process. The platform argues that Justice Alexandre de Moraes’s orders exceed his legal authority.

Impacts: Following the order to block access to the app, Billionaire investor Bill Ackman said Brazil is “uninvestable.” In a statement, Ackman said, “Brazil’s illegal shut down of X and account freeze at Starlink put Brazil on a rapid path to becoming an uninvestable market. China committed similar acts leading to capital flight and a collapse in valuations. The same will happen to Brazil unless they quickly retreat from these illegal acts.”