The American tycoon and owner of the social platform suspend the network due to “repeated non-compliance with court decisions.” The Brazilian telecommunications regulator, Anatel, has asked Internet service providers to suspend user access and, since last midnight, the main operators have begun to do so. The reaction comes after the North American businessman refused to block six user profiles in the orbit of Bolsonarism, arguing that the judge is “a dictator” who intends to censor them. This morning, he threatened to publish tomorrow “a long list of crimes” of the judge, whom he accuses of having violated the laws of his country with his judgment.
He Brazil's most famous and powerful judgeAlexandre de Moraes, a symbol of the defense of democracy and crusader against disinformation, ordered on Friday (midnight in Spain) that the activity of the popular social network be immediately suspended due to “repeated non-compliance with court decisions,” according to the legal opinion. The energetic measure of the Supreme Court magistrate represents the public pulse high point and the legal dispute he has had for months with Elon Musk for refusing to block six user profiles from the Bolsonarism orbit with the argument that the judge is “a dictator” who intends to censor them in view of the Brazilian municipal elections, scheduled for October.
While De Moraes claims that he is ordering the closure because there is “an imminent risk” that “extremist groups and digital militias will continue and expand the instrumentalization of X Brazil with the massive dissemination of Nazi, racist, fascist, hateful and anti-democratic speeches”, Musk accuses the judge of having violated Brazilian laws. The tycoon assured that he would begin publishing, from this Sunday, the “long list of crimes” committed by the magistrate, accompanied by a list of “Brazilian laws that he has violated” with his judgment.
“It is clear that he is not obliged to respect the laws of the United States, but he must comply with those of his own country,” Musk said on his account on the social network that he owns and where he accused the magistrate of being “a dictator and an impostor.”
“The Brazilian people will know their crimes. No matter how hard you try to prevent it,” added the tycoon, who describes X as “the most used source of information in Brazil and the one that people want.”
The tycoon announced almost two weeks ago the “immediate” closure of the company's subsidiary in Brazil due to “censorship orders” from De Moraes, which he described as “a shame for Brazilian justice.”
The judge, for his part, justifies the decision to block He already tried it under the government of Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), but those orders were not carried out. Musk is under investigation for alleged commission of crimes of obstruction of justice, criminal organization and incitement to crime, according to a statement.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has argued that all companies operating in the country must comply with their legal obligations. “Just because a man has a lot of money doesn’t mean he can disrespect (the law),” the leftist leader told local radio on Friday. Musk mocked the president as Moraes’ “lapdog” in a Thursday post in which he also called the judge a “dictator.” At an event on Friday, Moraes showed no signs of backing down. “Those who violate democracy, who violate basic human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable,” he said.
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