X expects Brazil to shut down platform ‘soon’ as Musk’s fight with judge heats up

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X IS ABOUT TO BE SHUT DOWN IN BRAZIL – IF THE COUNTRY’S SUPREME COURT FOLLOWS THROUGH ON ITS THREAT.

THIS – AFTER X CEO ELON MUSK AND BRAZIL’S TOP JUDGE ALEXANDRE DE MORAES HAVE BEEN BATTLING FOR WEEKS OVER SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATIONS AND CENSORSHIP.

IN A POST, X’S GLOBAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ACCOUNT POSTED – THAT THE COMPANY EXPECTS JUDGE DE MORAES TO SHUT DOWN THE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE IN BRAZIL “SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH HIS ILLEGAL ORDERS TO CENSOR HIS POLITICAL OPPONENTS.”

THE COMPANY SAID “WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO DEFEND OURSELVES IN COURT, JUDGE DE MORAES THREATENED OUR BRAZILIAN LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE WITH IMPRISONMENT. EVEN AFTER SHE RESIGNED, HE FROZE ALL OF HER BANK ACCOUNTS.”

MUSK WENT AFTER DE MORAES ON X THURSDAY EVENING, CALLING THE JUDGE AN “EVIL DICTATOR COSPLAYING AS A JUDGE.”

UNDER BRAZIL LAW – SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND FOREIGN COMPANIES MUST HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE IN ORDER TO OPERATE IN THE COUNTRY. RIGHT NOW – X DOES NOT HAVE ONE, BECAUSE WHEN JUDGE DE MORAES THREATENED TO JAIL X’S REPRESENTATIVE – MUSK REMOVED ALL EMPLOYEES FROM BRAZIL.

THE BRAZILIAN SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY – IT WAS GIVING THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 24 HOURS – TO FIND A REPRESENTATIVE IN BRAZIL OR FACE PENALTY OF SUSPENSION.

THE CONFLICT BETWEEN MUSK AND JUDGE DE MORAES BEGAN WHEN DE MORAES LED INVESTIGATIONS OF WHAT HE CALLS “DIGITAL MILITIAS” – WHICH ARE ACCUSED OF SPREADING DISINFORMATION. THE PROBES LED TO ACCOUNT SUSPENSIONS OF HIGH PROFILE INDIVIDUALS IN THE COUNTRY.

MUSK THEN ANNOUNCED THOSE ACCOUNTS WOULD BE REACTIVATED LEADING TO A CRIMINAL INQUIRY AGAINST THE TECH MOGUL.

JUDGE DE MORAES ALSO FROZE STARLINK’S FINANCES TO PREVENT ANOTHER ONE OF MUSK’S COMPANIES FROM DOING BUSINESS IN LATIN AMERICA’S LARGEST COUNTRY.

IN RESPONSE, MUSK POSTED: “MANY REMOTE SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS DEPEND ON SPACEX’S STARLINK! SPACEX WILL PROVIDE INTERNET SERVICE TO USERS IN BRAZIL FOR FREE UNTIL THIS MATTER IS RESOLVED, AS WE CANNOT RECEIVE PAYMENT, BUT DON’T WANT TO CUT ANYONE OFF.”

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.