X to Cease Operations Amid Legal Dispute In Brazil

Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has announced the immediate shutdown of its local operations in Brazil. This decision follows a contentious legal battle with Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes over the platform’s responsibilities in combating disinformation.

Despite the closure of its local office, Brazilian users will still have access to the platform. The conflict escalated when Judge de Moraes issued a secret order demanding the removal of certain posts, threatening daily fines and the arrest of X’s legal representative in Brazil, Rachel Nova Conceicao, if the platform did not comply.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, criticized the judge’s actions as unconstitutional and a violation of free speech. He stated that complying with the judge’s demands would have compromised the platform’s principles. Musk emphasized that the decision to close the office was necessary to protect the safety of X’s staff in Brazil.

The Brazilian government has criticized X’s decision, with Secretary of Digital Policies Joao Brant describing it as a “pathetic attitude” that could lead to further escalation, potentially resulting in the blocking of the platform in Brazil.

Judge de Moraes has been a prominent figure in Brazil’s efforts to combat disinformation, particularly during the tenure of former President Jair Bolsonaro. He has previously ordered the suspension of several accounts accused of spreading false information. Musk and other critics argue that these actions constitute a crackdown on free speech.

In response to the legal challenges, Musk reiterated that while the platform might lose revenue from Brazil, upholding its principles was more important than profit.

#The Guardian

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