Elon Musk says X to shut down local operations in Brazil
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X’s Global Government Affairs department says Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes had "threatened our legal representative in Brazil with arrest."
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Elon Musk arrives before a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, July 24, 2024. (AP)
Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, will shut down its local operations in Brazil after a contentious legal dispute over its obligations and rights, owner Elon Musk announced on Saturday.
The service will remain accessible to Brazilian users despite the office closure.
The decision marks the apparent conclusion of a prolonged legal conflict between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who said he has been leading efforts to combat the spread of dangerous disinformation online.
In a post on Saturday, X’s Global Government Affairs department claimed that Moraes had "threatened our legal representative in Brazil with arrest if we do not comply with his censorship orders."
The statement explained that the office closure was necessary “to protect the safety of our staff,” emphasizing that "the responsibility lies solely with Alexandre de Moraes."
Brazil orders closure of accounts spreading disinformation
Moraes had previously ordered the suspension of several accounts on Twitter accused of spreading disinformation, particularly those of supporters of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who attempted to undermine confidence in the voting system after losing the 2022 presidential election.
"Freedom of expression doesn't mean freedom of aggression," Moraes has stressed.
"It doesn't mean the freedom to defend tyranny."
Moraes has led the charge against disinformation in Brazil, where he also presides over the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Last year, the TSE declared Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office again, citing his dissemination of false information regarding the electoral system.
Musk and others have criticized Moraes, arguing that his actions are part of a broader crackdown on free speech.
In April, Moraes initiated an investigation into Musk, accusing him of “criminally instrumentalizing” X by reactivating banned accounts. He also threatened the platform's CEO with a fine of approximately $20,000 per violation.
"Social networks are not lands without laws," Moraes stated.
Musk countered by saying that while X might lose revenue in Brazil, "principles matter more than profit."
