In a significant legal clash, a Brazilian Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, has ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, in Brazil. This ruling comes after Musk failed to appoint a new legal representative for the company, following a prolonged dispute over disinformation concerns in the country.
Musk, who also owns Tesla and SpaceX, responded furiously, labeling Moraes an “evil dictator cosplaying as a judge” and accusing him of undermining democracy for political gain. The billionaire, known for his stance as a “free speech absolutist,” has been at odds with Moraes for months, especially since taking over X (formerly Twitter) in 2022. Critics argue that under Musk’s leadership, X has become a platform amplifying right-wing conspiracy theories.
Moraes, who is leading efforts against disinformation in Brazil, ordered the complete shutdown of X within 24 hours, threatening fines for anyone attempting to bypass the block. He initially ordered major tech companies like Google and Apple to prevent access to X, although he later softened this directive.
Musk had previously shut down X’s business operations in Brazil, claiming that Moraes had pressured the company’s former legal representative with threats of arrest to enforce censorship. The standoff intensified after X refused to comply with orders to censor political figures aligned with Brazil’s far-right, including supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who had challenged the results of the 2022 election.
Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, has also been drawn into the conflict, with its accounts frozen in Brazil by Moraes’s order, further straining relations. Musk and his companies are now under intense scrutiny in Brazil, with ongoing investigations into potential disinformation campaigns linked to Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s current President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, criticized Musk’s defiance, emphasizing that anyone investing in Brazil must adhere to the country’s constitution and laws. As the situation escalates, it underscores the broader tensions between global tech companies and national regulations on disinformation and free speech.