Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter), to appoint a new legal representative in Brazil or face immediate suspension of the platform’s services in the country. This dramatic escalation comes after X announced on August 17 the closure of its Brazilian operations, citing threats and censorship demands from de Moraes.The conflict stems from X’s alleged failure to comply with court orders to block certain accounts accused of spreading disinformation and hate speech, particularly those linked to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. De Moraes has increased daily fines on X from R$50,000 to R$200,000 for non-compliance.Musk is currently under investigation in Brazil for allegedly committing crimes including obstruction of justice, organized crime, and incitement to crime. X claims that de Moraes secretly threatened to arrest the company’s legal representative if they did not comply with his orders.The situation has sparked a heated debate about freedom of expression and the role of social media platforms in combating misinformation. X stated, ‘His [de Moraes’] actions are incompatible with a democratic government. The Brazilian people have a choice to make – democracy or Alexandre de Moraes’.As the standoff continues, experts warn of potential implications for content moderation and user support in Brazil, especially with upcoming municipal elections. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has criticized X’s decision to close its Brazilian operations.
Key points
- Brazil’s Supreme Court has given Elon Musk 24 hours to appoint a new legal representative for X in Brazil or face suspension.
- The conflict stems from X’s alleged non-compliance with court orders to block accounts spreading disinformation.
- Musk is under investigation in Brazil for alleged crimes including obstruction of justice and incitement to crime.
- The situation has sparked a debate about freedom of expression and social media regulation in Brazil.
Contradictions👾While X claims to have closed its Brazilian operations to protect its employees, the Brazilian court states that X currently does not have a legal representative in Brazil, suggesting the closure may not have been fully implemented.
