Sao Paulo (Brazil): Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has decided to close its local operations in Brazil due to a legal conflict with the country’s Supreme Court. The decision was announced by the platform’s owner, Elon Musk, who cited concerns for the safety of the local staff.
However, the platform will remain accessible to users in Brazil. The conflict arose from accusations by Brazil’s Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who claimed that X was allowing disinformation to spread unchecked. In contrast, Musk and X have defended their stance, arguing that they are protecting free speech and opposing what they describe as “illegal secret censorship.”
In April, Judge Moraes ordered an investigation into Musk, accusing him of using the platform for “criminal instrumentalization.” The investigation followed Musk’s decision to reactivate previously banned accounts, a move that prompted threats of fines.
X’s Global Government Affairs department issued a statement condemning Judge Moraes’ actions, accusing him of threatening their legal representative in Brazil with arrest over non-compliance with censorship orders. The statement emphasized that the responsibility for this situation lies with Judge Moraes, describing his actions as incompatible with democratic governance.
Musk expressed regret over the decision but stated that complying with what he called “illegal” demands would have been unacceptable. Judge Moraes, who also heads Brazil’s Superior Electoral Tribunal, has a history of cracking down on social media accounts he believes spread disinformation, including those associated with former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Moraes has maintained that “freedom of expression doesn’t mean freedom of aggression,” highlighting his commitment to preventing the spread of disinformation and defending Brazil’s democratic processes.
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