In a landmark decision, Brazil's Supreme Court has ratified the suspension of Elon Musk's social network, X, citing alleged judicial transgressions. The platform has been inaccessible in the country since Saturday morning, following a ruling by Judge Alexandre de Moraes.
Judge Moraes ordered the suspension after Musk failed to appoint a new legal representative for X in Brazil, a requirement the company dismissed as \"illegal.\" The decision was solidified on Monday when five Supreme Court judges, including Moraes, upheld the suspension during a virtual session.
\"Elon Musk demonstrated his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, the judiciary, positioning himself as a true supranational entity immune to the laws of countries,\" Moraes stated in the ruling. His colleague, Flavio Dino, added, \"Freedom of expression does not excuse repeated violations of the legal system.\"
The feud between Moraes and Musk has been a focal point in Brazil for months, with Musk advocating for free speech while Moraes emphasizes the importance of adhering to national laws. Musk, who also leads Tesla and SpaceX, responded strongly to the court's decision, labeling Moraes an \"evil dictator cosplaying as a judge\" and accusing him of attempting to \"destroy democracy in Brazil.\"
The controversy began when Moraes suspended several X accounts linked to supporters of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro. In April, Moraes initiated an investigation into Musk, alleging that he reactivated some of the banned accounts. Additionally, Musk faces a separate probe for allegedly using public funds to support disinformation campaigns favoring Bolsonaro and his affiliates.
Amid the ongoing tensions, X announced in August that it would close its offices in Brazil due to Moraes's actions, though it assured users that services would remain accessible. Before the suspension, X boasted approximately 22 million users in Brazil, according to DataReportal.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
