Brazil’s Supreme Court has issued an ultimatum to Elon Musk, demanding that the billionaire owner of X, formerly Twitter, appoint a legal representative in the country within 24 hours.
Failure to comply could result in the suspension of the platform’s operations in the Latin American nation.
This development marks the latest escalation in a protracted conflict between Musk and Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who has been leading efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation in Brazil.
Why Musk is at odds with Brazil
Judge Alexandre de Moraes has been at the forefront of efforts to curb the spread of misinformation in Brazil, a country with over 200 million people.
His actions have included ordering the suspension of more than 100 accounts on X, many of which were linked to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
These suspensions were part of a broader crackdown following Bolsonaro’s defeat in the 2022 presidential election, where he lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro’s claims of potential fraud in Brazil’s electronic voting system were central to the tensions.
In contrast, Elon Musk, who describes himself as a ‘free speech absolutist,’ has consistently criticised de Moraes for what he views as an infringement on free speech rights.
Musk’s opposition has been particularly vocal after de Moraes accused him of waging a ‘disinformation campaign’ and undermining Brazil’s sovereignty.
The conflict reached a tipping point in April when Musk decided to defy court orders to block certain accounts on X, leading to heightened tensions.
Will X’s exit from Brazil?
Earlier this month, X announced its intention to shut down operations in Brazil, citing de Moraes’s threats of arrest against one of the company’s legal representatives for non-compliance with court orders.
This decision has raised questions about the future of X’s presence in Brazil and the broader implications for social media regulation in the country.
De Moraes’s recent order, which demands that X appoint a legal representative within 24 hours, underscores the gravity of the situation. The judge has warned that failure to comply could result in the suspension of X’s operations in Brazil.
This potential ban could have significant repercussions, not only for X but also for the broader landscape of social media and digital communication in Brazil.
Political ramifications
The conflict between Musk and de Moraes has taken on a political dimension, particularly given the involvement of Bolsonaro’s right-wing allies.
Bolsonaro, who has been barred from running for office until 2030 by de Moraes and other judges, has seen his supporters rally against the Supreme Court’s actions, accusing the judiciary of overreach.
On the other hand, de Moraes’s supporters argue that his actions are crucial in a country grappling with disinformation and threats to democracy.
The Supreme Court’s efforts to enforce legal compliance on social media platforms like X are seen as a necessary measure to maintain the integrity of Brazil’s democratic processes.
As the deadline set by the Supreme Court looms, the future of X in Brazil remains uncertain.
The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for how social media platforms operate in Brazil and potentially influence regulatory approaches in other countries.
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