Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes Threatens to Shut Down X

It was only one week ago that social media platform X announced it will close its operations in Brazil.

This came after Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes threatened to arrest the company’s legal reps if they didn’t comply with court orders.

Fast forward a week later.

Justice Moraes is still making demands.

Now he’s stating that X will face a complete shutdown in Brazil.

That is, if Elon Musk doesn’t bow to his demands.

And what are his demands?

Censorship, of course.

At least Moraes dresses for the part.

BREAKING: Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes threatens to SUSPEND 𝕏 if Musk doesn't comply in the next 24 hours pic.twitter.com/0SkXqsIGke

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 29, 2024

This comes a week after X announces suspension of Brazil operations.

AP News reports:

Social media platform X said Saturday it will close its operations in Brazil, claiming Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes threatened to arrest its legal representative in Brazil if they did not comply with orders.

X is removing all remaining Brazil staff in the country “effective immediately,” though the company said service will still be available to the people of Brazil. The company did not clarify how it could claim to suspend operations while continuing to provide services to Brazilians.

Earlier this year, the company clashed with de Moraes over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation on X. The company said his most recent orders amounted to censorship, and shared a copy of the document on X.

The Supreme Court’s press office didn’t immediately respond to Associated Press email requests seeking comment, or to confirm the veracity of the document, on Saturday.

In the United States, free speech is a constitutional right that’s much more permissive than in many countries, including Brazil, where de Moraes in April ordered an investigation into CEO Elon Musk over the dissemination of defamatory fake news and another probe over possible obstruction, incitement and criminal organization.

It seems this tango dance between Brazil and Mr. Musk has quite a history.

BREAKING: U.S. House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed X Corp. for info on Brazilian Supreme Court 'content moderation' orders.

Elon Musk states that U.S. laws prohibit involvement in foreign corruption, contrasting demands from Brazil Judge Alexandre de Moraes. pic.twitter.com/rB4ZJqI5Aw

— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) April 15, 2024

Alex Jones does a great job calling out Alexandre de Moraes for being the cape-flapping dictator that he is:

BREAKING: Elon Musk Battles The Dictator Of Brazil— Meet Lord Alexandre de Moraes pic.twitter.com/hwLfY4radJ

— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) April 19, 2024