Social media platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, announced on Saturday that it is closing its operations in Brazil. The decision comes in response to what the company describes as “censorship orders” issued by Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes.
The decision to close the 𝕏 office in Brazil was difficult, but, if we had agreed to @alexandre’s (illegal) secret censorship and private information handover demands, there was no way we could explain our actions without being ashamed.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 17, 2024
Key Reasons for Shutdown
- Judge’s Orders: X claims that Judge Alexandre de Moraes threatened to arrest one of the company’s legal representatives, Rachel Nova Conceicao, if the platform did not comply with orders to remove certain content.
- Legal Consequences: The judge allegedly signed a document imposing a daily fine of 20,000 reais ($3,653) and a potential arrest decree against the X representative if the orders were not followed.
- Safety Concerns: X cited the safety of its staff as the primary reason for shutting down its operations in Brazil.
Musk’s Response
- Public Statements: Elon Musk took to X to express his frustration, calling Moraes an “utter disgrace to justice.”
- Legal Disputes: Musk has previously challenged Moraes’ decisions, labeling them as “unconstitutional.” However, X’s legal team in Brazil later agreed to comply with the court’s rulings.
Background Context
- Earlier Orders: Earlier this year, Moraes ordered X to block certain accounts as part of an investigation into “digital militias” accused of spreading fake news and hate messages during the tenure of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
- Operational Challenges: X admitted in April that operational issues had allowed some users who were ordered to be blocked to remain active on the platform.
Current Situation
- Platform Availability: Despite the shutdown of operations, the X service remains accessible to users in Brazil.
- Supreme Court’s Stance: Brazil’s Supreme Court, where Moraes holds a seat, declined to comment on the situation and did not verify the authenticity of the document shared by X.
