X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has made the decision to terminate its local operations in Brazil, a move prompted by a contentious legal dispute with Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes regarding online censorship. Although Brazilian users will continue to have access to the platform, the closure signifies the culmination of ongoing tensions between the company and Judge de Moraes, who has been active in combatting the spread of misinformation online.
On Saturday, Elon Musk, the owner of X, announced the closure, articulating that it was necessary to safeguard the well-being of the staff in Brazil. A communication from X’s Global Government Affairs department indicated that Judge de Moraes had threatened legal representatives in Brazil with imprisonment unless compliance with his censorship directives was obtained. The statement further clarified that the responsibility for this situation rests solely with Judge de Moraes.
The Brazilian government has openly criticized the stance taken by X. Joao Brant, Brazil’s Secretary of Digital Policies, remarked on the platform that the company’s approach is “pathetic” and warned that it could lead to escalations potentially resulting in a total shutdown of the platform within the country.
Judge de Moraes has previously mandated the suspension of numerous Twitter accounts identified as spreading disinformation, notably those associated with supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who sought to undermine trust in the electoral system following his defeat in the 2022 presidential elections. “Freedom of expression does not equate to freedom of aggression,” stated de Moraes, emphasizing that there must be accountability for disseminating harmful information.
As the presiding figure of Brazil’s Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), de Moraes played a crucial role in ruling Bolsonaro ineligible for future candidacies due to the dissemination of falsehoods concerning the electoral process.
Critics, including Musk, have characterized de Moraes’s actions as part of an expansive suppression of free speech. Musk expressed that compliance with de Moraes’s censorship orders would have resulted in a loss of integrity, stating, “There was no way we could explain our actions without being ashamed.”
Previously, in April, de Moraes initiated an investigation into Musk, accusing him of criminally manipulating the platform by reinstating accounts that had been banned. He subsequently imposed a potential fine of approximately $20,000 for each infraction committed.
In defending the principles of his company, Musk articulated that while the decision may lead to a decrease in revenue from Brazil, upholding principles is paramount in comparison to financial gain.
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