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“Free speech is the bedrock of democracy, and an unelected pseudo-judge in Brazil is destroying it for political purposes,” Musk fired back on X, the very platform now facing a nationwide shutdown.
The explosive response came after months of tension between Musk and Brazilian authorities, with Moraes leading efforts to curb the spread of disinformation in South America’s largest nation. The feud reached its peak when Moraes handed down an order to immediately suspend X’s operations in Brazil, following Musk’s refusal to appoint a new legal representative for the platform.
Breakdown of the ruling
Immediate suspension of X
- Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the “immediate, complete, and comprehensive suspension” of X’s operations in Brazil.
- The ruling mandated that Brazil’s national communications agency enforce this suspension within 24 hours.
Enforcement by tech companies
- Moraes directed major tech companies, including Google, Apple, and internet service providers, to introduce technological barriers that would prevent access to the X application and website.
- This includes actions such as removing the X app from their stores and blocking the website on Brazilian internet networks.
Fines for circumvention
- Users attempting to bypass the suspension by using methods like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or other “technological subterfuges” would face fines of 50,000 reais (approximately $8,900).
Reason for suspension
- The suspension was ordered after Musk’s failure to comply with a directive to appoint a new legal representative for X in Brazil. This directive was part of a broader effort to ensure the platform adhered to Brazilian law in its operations.
- Moraes emphasized that the suspension was necessary to combat the spread of disinformation on the platform, particularly in the context of Brazil’s political landscape.
Broader context
- This ruling is part of an ongoing conflict between Musk and Brazilian authorities, particularly over the handling of disinformation and fake news on X.
- The platform has been under scrutiny for allowing the spread of right-wing conspiracy theories and for allegedly being used to undermine the 2022 election, in which former President Jair Bolsonaro was defeated.
Extended actions against Musk
- The ruling followed Moraes’ earlier orders to suspend accounts of Bolsonaro supporters and the investigation into Musk for potentially reactivating banned accounts.
- Additionally, Moraes recently froze the accounts of Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, further intensifying the legal and financial pressures on Musk’s operations in Brazil.
- Moraes’ ruling didn’t stop at shutting down X. He directed Brazil’s national communications agency to enforce the suspension within 24 hours and instructed tech giants like Google and Apple to implement technological barriers preventing access to X’s website and app. Users attempting to bypass the ban through methods like VPNs could face fines of up to 50,000 reais ($8,900).
‘Who does (Musk) think he is’
The roots of the standoff trace back to earlier this year when Moraes ordered the suspension of several X accounts linked to supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. These accounts were accused of spreading false narratives aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the 2022 election, which Bolsonaro lost. Musk, who took over X in 2022 and proclaimed himself a “free speech absolutist,” has been under scrutiny for allowing the platform to become a hub for right-wing conspiracy theories.
In defiance of Moraes’ orders, Musk shut down X’s business operations in Brazil earlier this month, claiming that the judge had threatened the company’s previous legal representative with arrest to enforce “censorship orders.” Despite a 24-hour deadline to comply, Musk remained steadfast, leading to the suspension.
This confrontation isn’t limited to X. On Thursday, Moraes froze the accounts of Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, blocking it from conducting financial transactions in Brazil. Musk’s defiance extends beyond this, as he is also under investigation for allegedly participating in disinformation campaigns supporting Bolsonaro.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva weighed in on the escalating situation, making it clear that Musk, like any other individual or corporation operating in Brazil, is subject to the country’s laws. “Who does (Musk) think he is?” Lula remarked, highlighting the growing tension between Musk and Brazilian authorities.
