Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, expressed his outrage towards Brazil’s “pseudo-judge,” referring to Moraes as an “evil dictator pretending to be a judge” and claiming he is “attempting to undermine democracy in Brazil.”
For months, Moraes and Musk have been engaged in a high-profile conflict, with Moraes leading efforts against misinformation in Brazil. Musk has claimed to be a “free speech absolutist,” but since acquiring the platform previously known as Twitter in 2022, he has faced criticism for allegedly allowing right-wing conspiracy theories to proliferate.
Moraes has demanded the “immediate, complete and comprehensive suspension of the operation of” X in Brazil, instructing the national communications agency to implement this order within 24 hours. He has also urged Google, Apple, and internet service providers to create technological barriers to prevent access to the X application and website. Additionally, he issued a warning of a 50,000 reais ($8,900) fine for individuals using “technological subterfuges” like VPNs to bypass the blockage. The platform boasts over 22 million users in Brazil.
Earlier this month, Musk halted X’s operations in Brazil, asserting that Moraes had intimidated the company’s former legal representative with threats of arrest to enforce “censorship orders.” On Wednesday, Moraes instructed Musk to appoint a new representative within 24 hours or risk suspension. Following the deadline, X publicly expressed its expectation that Moraes would shut down the platform for refusing to comply with his “illegal orders” to censor political rivals.
The dispute escalated when Moraes ordered the suspension of multiple X accounts associated with supporters of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who attempted to undermine the 2022 election results after his loss. Brazilian authorities are currently investigating whether Bolsonaro coordinated a coup to hinder current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s inauguration in January 2023. Those affected by Moraes’s actions include controversial figures like former congressman Daniel Silveira, sentenced to nine years in prison in 2022 for leading a movement against the Supreme Court.
In April, Moraes initiated an inquiry into Musk, accusing him of reinstating some of the banned accounts. Starlink claimed that the order was based on an unfounded premise that it should be held liable for the unconstitutional fines imposed on X and stated its intention to resolve the issue through legal channels. Musk is also facing a separate investigation regarding an alleged scheme that misused public funds for disinformation campaigns supporting Bolsonaro and his affiliates.
Lula commented on the situation during a local radio interview, stating, “Any citizen from anywhere in the world who has investments in Brazil is subject to the Brazilian Constitution and laws. Who does (Musk) think he is?”
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