The shutdown was the obvious end result of an ongoing authorized battle between Elon Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court docket Justice Alexandre de Moraes. | Picture credit score: AP
“Social media platform X (previously Twitter) will shut down its native operations in Brazil following a bitter authorized dispute over the platform’s rights and obligations,” proprietor Elon Musk stated on Saturday (August 17, 2024).
The service will proceed to be obtainable for Brazilian customers.
The shutdown was the obvious end result of an ongoing authorized battle between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court docket Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has stated he’s making an attempt to fight the unfold of harmful misinformation on-line.
Learn additionally: Brazil’s Supreme Court docket says ‘each firm is topic to the structure’ amid probe into Musk for refusing to dam X accounts
A Saturday (August 17, 2024) put up from X’s World Authorities Affairs division stated Moraes had “threatened our authorized consultant in Brazil with arrest if we don’t comply together with his censorship orders.”
He stated the closure of the workplace was needed “to guard the protection of our employees,” including that “the duty lies solely with Alexandre de Moraes.”
The Brazilian authorities criticised X’s stance, with Digital Coverage Secretary João Brant writing on the platform that the corporate had a “pathetic perspective”.
He added that X would power a “possible escalation that would result in the platform being blocked.”
Moraes had beforehand ordered the suspension of a number of Twitter accounts suspected of spreading disinformation, together with these of supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, who sought to discredit the voting system within the 2022 presidential election, which he misplaced.
Learn additionally: Elon Musk, proprietor of X, makes use of his “free speech” platform to unfold his opinions all over the world
“Freedom of speech doesn’t imply freedom of aggression,” Moraes stated. “It doesn’t imply freedom to defend tyranny.”
Mr. Moraes has led the battle in opposition to disinformation in South America’s largest nation.
He heads Brazil’s Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), which final yr declared Bolsonaro ineligible to run for workplace once more, alleging he had unfold false details about the electoral system.
Musk and different critics have stated Moraes is a part of a broader crackdown on free speech.
The chief government stated on Saturday (August 17, 2024) that if X had complied with Mr Moraes’ orders, “there can be no means we might clarify our actions with out feeling ashamed.”
In April, Moraes ordered an investigation into Musk. An order seen by AFP confirmed Moraes accusing Musk of “legal instrumentalization” of the platform.
Moraes stated Musk had reactivated the banned accounts and threatened the billionaire with a high-quality of about $20,000 for every occasion. “Social media is just not a lawless land,” Moraes wrote.
Musk responded that whereas X would possibly lose its Brazilian income, “rules matter greater than earnings.”
