In the midst of a heated battle between site owner Elon Musk and Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, Brazil’s top court is on the verge of blocking access to X in the country with a population of over 200 million people. The feud between Musk and Moraes stems from X’s moderation policies, which have been a point of contention for months. Earlier this year, Moraes initiated an inquiry against X after Musk refused to comply with a court order to block accounts supporting former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro that were accused of spreading fake news and hate speech.
One of the legal hurdles faced by X in Brazil is the requirement for internet firms to have a legal representative in the country who can serve as a liaison between the government and the company. X currently does not have a legal representative in Brazil as it closed its offices in the country earlier this year, following threats from Moraes during the inquiry. Despite a Supreme Court-imposed deadline for X to appoint a new representative passing, the company remains non-compliant.
Contentious Claims
In a bold statement, X’s global affairs account accused Judge Alexandre de Moraes of ordering the shutdown of X in Brazil due to the company’s refusal to censor its political opponents, including a senator and a 16-year-old girl. Musk further escalated the situation by branding Moraes as “an evil dictator cosplaying as a judge.” X framed the court’s decisions as violations of Brazil’s laws, labeling them as “illegal” and declaring its intention to publish all related court documents. Moraes’ office has yet to respond to these allegations.
Despite the looming threat of being blocked in Brazil, X continued to be accessible to users in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro as of Friday morning. However, Moraes has already taken action by freezing bank accounts of Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet company, this week. Starlink condemned the move as an unjust attempt to hold the company accountable for fines imposed on X for failing to submit requested documents, promising to seek legal recourse. The potential blocking of X in a country as populous as Brazil would have far-reaching implications, especially amidst global efforts to regulate tech giants and their wealthy owners.
The clash between X, Elon Musk, and the Brazilian Supreme Court occurs against a backdrop of increased scrutiny on large digital platforms and their billionaire CEOs. This week, Pavel Durov, the billionaire CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France on charges of “complicity” in various serious crimes facilitated on the platform, which has gained a reputation for its lax content moderation practices over the years. As governments around the world grapple with the power and influence of tech behemoths, the outcome of the conflict between X and the Brazilian authorities could set a precedent for future regulatory actions in the digital sphere.