Tensions between Elon Musk and Brazil reached a new height as a Supreme Court judge initiated an inquiry into the tech mogul following Musk's announcement that he would reinstate accounts on the social media platform X, which the judge had previously ordered to be blocked.
As the proprietor of X and an advocate for unrestricted freedom of speech, Musk openly contested Justice Alexandre de Moraes' directive to block specific accounts, labeling the action as unconstitutional. Musk declared that X, formerly Twitter, would remove all restrictions, urging Moraes to step down from his position.
Details regarding the specific social media accounts targeted for blocking remain undisclosed by Musk, X, or Brazilian authorities. While X initially reported the blocking order on Saturday, the timing of its issuance remains unclear.
Moraes is currently probing "digital militias" accused of disseminating false information and hateful content during the tenure of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Additionally, he leads an investigation into an alleged coup plot involving Bolsonaro.
In a Saturday evening post on X, Musk accused Moraes of repeatedly flouting the Brazilian constitution and betraying its people. Musk lamented the hefty fines, threats of employee arrests, and the potential cutoff of X access in Brazil, implying significant financial repercussions.
Expressing his commitment to challenge the order legally, Musk faces further scrutiny as Moraes includes him in the investigation into social media misinformation and initiates an inquiry into what he terms as obstruction of justice.
Moraes sternly warned X to abide by existing court orders, including refraining from reactivating profiles previously blocked by the Supreme Court. Failure to comply would result in daily fines of 100,000 reais ($19,740), Moraes declared.
Brazil's leftist government, under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, voiced support for Moraes. Solicitor General Jorge Messias condemned Musk's actions and advocated for the regulation of social media platforms to prevent foreign entities from violating Brazilian laws.
The episode reflects broader concerns over foreign entities controlling social networks and flouting legal frameworks, prompting calls for tighter regulations. Notably, Moraes previously launched investigations into executives at Telegram and Google, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding internet regulations and corporate responsibility.
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