Social media giant X has announced the closure of its operations in Brazil following a legal battle with Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes over the platform’s responsibility to combat disinformation. The platform, previously known as Twitter, declared that the shutdown would be effective immediately, but Brazilian users would still have access to X.
The clash between Moraes and Elon Musk, the owner of X, escalated when the judge ordered the platform to block accounts spreading false news and hate messages, including those supporting former President Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro’s claims of election fraud and subsequent unrest in Brazil prompted Moraes to take action against disinformation online.
Moraes allegedly threatened an X legal representative with arrest if the platform did not comply with legal orders to remove content, leading to Musk calling him “an utter disgrace to justice.” The decision to close X’s office in Brazil was a difficult one, according to Musk, who stated that complying with Moraes’s orders would have been shameful.
The legal battle between X and Moraes began when Musk challenged the judge’s orders to block certain accounts on the platform. X representatives initially resisted but later agreed to comply with the rulings after Moraes opened an inquiry into Musk’s actions. Moraes had accused X of operational faults that allowed blocked users to remain active on the platform.
The conflict highlights the ongoing struggle between social media platforms and governments worldwide over the responsibility to combat disinformation and uphold freedom of expression. The closure of X’s operations in Brazil marks a significant development in this ongoing debate.
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