Jay Patel
Brazil’s Supreme Court has given Elon Musk 24 hours to appoint a new legal representative for X in Brazil and to settle any outstanding daily fines, threatening to suspend the social media platform if he fails to comply. This ultimatum underscores the ongoing conflict between Musk and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, which has been characterized by disputes over free speech and allegations of disinformation.
The controversy began earlier this month when X announced its decision to close its Brazilian operations and lay off its staff in response to what it described as “censorship orders” from de Moraes. The judge had previously mandated that X block several accounts accused of spreading misinformation, which X argued infringed upon its operational and editorial freedoms.
The Supreme Court’s latest statement, issued by de Moraes and shared via X’s official account, set a strict deadline for Musk to respond. The announcement was posted in the evening, providing Musk with until the following evening local time to address the court’s demands.
In response, Musk accused de Moraes of repeatedly violating the laws he is meant to uphold, a criticism he voiced through X. On August 17, X had published a statement explaining the necessity of its Brazilian shutdown, attributing the decision to the judge’s censorship demands and the adverse impact on its local staff.
Later that day, Musk supported the statement, asserting that X’s closure in Brazil was a last resort due to de Moraes’s demands, which he claimed would force the company to breach multiple legal systems. The situation remains tense as both parties continue to navigate their legal and operational confrontations.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings