Company X from the realm of social media announces its decision to cease operations in Brazil, following allegations that a judge on the highest court of the country threatened to apprehend its legal representative in Brazil if the company did not adhere to his directives.
X, previously identified as Twitter, declared the immediate removal of its remaining workforce in Brazil, while ensuring that the service will still be accessible in the region.
The business, under the ownership of billionaire Elon Musk, has encountered conflicts with the aforementioned justice, Alexandre de Moraes, concerning issues related to freedom of expression, extreme right-wing accounts, and dissemination of misinformation on X.
Brazil’s Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes. Pic: Reuters
Elon Musk. Pic: Reuters
In April, Mr de Moraes initiated an investigation into the chief executive, Mr Musk, concerning the spread of defamatory false information and another inquiry related to potential hindrance, provocation, and criminal syndication.
Characterizing his recent dictates as forms of censorship, X highlighted, and an account purportedly representing X’s global government affairs shared a copy of the alleged document in question.
The press office of the Supreme Court has not issued any comments yet or verified the authenticity of the mentioned document.
Mr Musk shared multiple posts regarding Mr de Moraes on X on Saturday evening, including one that drew parallels between the justice and the antagonist in Harry Potter, Voldemort.
The political right in Brazil has consistently portrayed Mr de Moraes as exceeding his authority by suppressing freedom of speech and engaging in political oppression.
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He has vigorously pursued individuals whom he perceives as undermining the fledgling democracy of Brazil, including the investigation of former president Jair Bolsonaro and the ordering of arrests for his supporters who raided government premises in January 2023.
