X has now shut down its offices and operations in Brazil after it claimed that it received "threats" from Brazilian Supreme Court Minister, Alexandre de Moraes. This came after several months since X and Brazil's Supreme Court first clashed over the proliferation of content from ex-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and his supporters who were spreading far-right ideals and fake news on the platform.
It is known that X refused to censor the said controversial content in Brazil, gaining notoriety against the country's judicial body.
X Shuts Down Brazil Operations After 'Threats' from Justice de Moraes
(Photo : STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
A new announcement by X's Global Affairs account revealed that it has shut down its office and operations in Brazil effective immediately after its legal representatives were "threatened" by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. X then claimed that their legal representative was going to be arrested by de Moraes' if the platform did not comply with the censorship order.
It was revealed by X that it sent over appeals to Brazil's Supreme Court regarding the censorship fiasco, but instead of being heard or given due process, it was threatened instead.
Moreover, X revealed that to protect its staff, it decided to close down its operations in the South American country instead.
X Brazil Service Still Accessible for Users Despite Shut Down
Despite its office closing down, X claimed that its service would still be accessible in Brazil and would continue the social media experience for its residents.
Elon Musk also shared his sentiments on the recent events, claiming that the company was asked to "break" international law, as well as laws in America, Argentina, and Brazil, demanded by Justice de Moraes "in secret."
Due to demands by “Justice” @Alexandre in Brazil that would require us to break (in secret) Brazilian, Argentinian, American and international law, 𝕏 has no choice but to close our local operations in Brazil.
Brazil has once asked X to censor several controversial topics, particularly far-right ideals on the platform, after the reported spread of fake news from the South American country's ex-President and his supporters. However, Musk and X have criticized the court order that Justice de Moraes handed down, and this led to both being investigated by Brazil's Supreme Court.
However, it did not stop there. Elon Musk has since pushed against this court order and continued to uphold "free speech" ideals for Brazilian X users, allowing content even from controversial standpoints, to be posted online.
At one point, Bolsonaro supporters have thanked Musk and X for allowing their voices to be heard, especially as Musk once claimed de Moraes to "suppress" free speech.
Since then, a back-and-forth tussle was seen from Musk, X, Brazil's high courts, and Justice de Moraes, with the tech billionaire also alleging that the Supreme Court minister is "violating" the law.
X and Musk claimed that its legal representatives in Brazil were threatened by Justice de Moraes recently, leading to the platform shutting down its office and operations in the country, but the service remains accessible for all.
