The Brazilian Supreme Court’s battle against disinformation and the reinstatement of far-right accounts on the social media platform X has led to the closure of its local operations in Brazil, according to owner Elon Musk. Despite the shutdown of its office, the service will continue to be available to Brazilian users.
This decision came after a fierce legal feud between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is dedicated to combating the spread of dangerous misinformation online. Moraes had ordered the suspension of several Twitter accounts, including those linked to supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro who sought to undermine the credibility of the voting system.
In response to Moraes’s censorship orders, X’s Global Government Affairs department announced the closure of its office in Brazil for the safety of its staff, placing the blame solely on Moraes. Musk emphasized the importance of principles over profit and criticized Moraes for his actions, accusing him of limiting freedom of speech.
The ongoing clash highlights the importance of regulating online content and protecting democratic processes from the threat of misinformation in South America’s largest nation.