Banning 𝕏 from Brazil affects not only @elonmusk but more than 22 million users that do not want to be censored. This is NOT democracy no matter what the leftists say.
— Nikolas Ferreira (@nikolas_dm) August 29, 2024
Brazil’s top court has threatened to suspend the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, by Thursday night if the company does not name a legal representative in Brazil within 24 hours. This ultimatum comes as part of an ongoing feud between X’s owner, Elon Musk, and Brazilian authorities, led by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The court has demanded that certain accounts be suspended, citing battles against misinformation, hate speech, and attacks on democracy.
Don't back down, @elonmusk. Defend democracy and freedom in Brazil.
— Nikolas Ferreira (@nikolas_dm) August 29, 2024
Most of the targeted accounts belong to right-wing supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, some of whom questioned his 2022 election loss and expressed support for protests seeking a military takeover. Musk has accused Justice Moraes of censoring conservative voices online, highlighting a critical stress test for his commitment to countering what he sees as censorship on his platform. If X fails to comply with the order, it risks losing access to Brazil’s population of 200 million, which would be a significant blow as the company struggles to regain revenue.
Brazil's top court threatens to shut down X in its country by Thursday nighthttps://t.co/nBkArgBBcC
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) August 29, 2024
Top court’s ultimatum to X
This confrontation with Brazil’s legal system adds another layer of complexity to Musk’s efforts to steer the platform according to his personal ideology. The situation continues to develop, and how Musk navigates this challenge will reveal the lengths he is willing to go to maintain control over his social network and uphold his stance against perceived censorship.
Earlier this month, X said it faced threats from Justice Moraes to arrest its legal representative in Brazil. In response, the Supreme Court issued a statement warning that non-compliance could result in suspending X’s activities in the country. Brazil’s political right has accused Justice Moraes of clamping down on free speech and engaging in political persecution.
However, his defenders argue that his actions are lawful and have the support of the majority of the country’s Supreme Court. They believe that these measures are necessary to protect democracy, which they view as under threat. As of Wednesday night, neither Elon Musk nor representatives from X had responded to requests for comment regarding the potential ban.
