Social media giant X has announced the immediate shutdown of its operations in Brazil following a legal battle with Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes over disinformation. While the platform will no longer be operational in the country, Brazilian users will still have access to X.
The decision to close the X office in Brazil was influenced by Moraes’ orders to block certain accounts spreading false news and hate messages, including those of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. This move follows a tumultuous period in Brazil, with Bolsonaro refusing to accept his election defeat and his supporters storming state institutions in protest.
Moraes, who has been actively working to combat disinformation online, has been at odds with Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of X. Musk has criticized Moraes, calling him “an utter disgrace to justice” for allegedly threatening X’s legal representative in Brazil with arrest if the platform did not comply with his orders to take down content.
While the Brazilian Supreme Court has not confirmed the authenticity of the document shared by X, Musk has stated that the company could not agree to the judge’s demands without feeling ashamed. This latest development in the legal battle highlights the ongoing challenges faced by social media platforms in regulating content and maintaining freedom of expression.
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