X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, said today that it’s ending operations in Brazil, although the service will remain available to users in the country.
Legal Battle with Brazil’s Supreme Court
The announcement comes amidst a legal battle with Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who sought to block certain accounts on X as part of an investigation into election disinformation and “digital militias.”
X Response to Legal Threats
In a post from X global government affairs account, the company said Moraes has “threatened our legal representative in Brazil with arrest if we do not comply with his censorship orders.”
X Decision to Protect Staff
The company continued, “As a result, to protect the safety of our staff, we have decided to close our operation in Brazil, effective immediately. The X service remains available to the people of Brazil.”
Controversial Targeted Accounts
In an earlier post, X listed some of the targeted accounts and said they include “a pastor, a current Parliamentarian, and the wife of a former Parliamentarian.”
Background: Musk’s Legal Challenges in Brazil
Earlier this year, Moraes opened a criminal inquiry into Elon Musk after the owner said he would defy a court order by lifting restrictions on designated accounts. Then the company seemed to reverse course and said it would block the accounts after all.
Political Backlash and Criticism
Supporters of Brazil’s former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro have criticized Moraes and called for his impeachment. Bolsonaro lost the election in 2022, and Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court has blocked him from seeking office again for eight years, alleging that he sought to undermine the election through his claims of fraud.
Musk’s Position on Moraes
Musk, AI who visited Brazil in 2022 and met with Bolsonaro, has also said Moraes “should resign or be impeached.”
X Statement on Democracy and Accountability
In today’s post, X said “Our Brazilian staff have no responsibility or control over whether content is blocked on our platform” and that “the people of Brazil have a choice to make – democracy, or Alexandre de Moraes.”
