X, formerly known as Twitter, shuts down Brazil office over censorship clash
In a bold move, X (formerly Twitter) has closed its Brazilian office amidst a heated censorship dispute. The social media giant faced threats of legal action from Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who demanded compliance with his censorship orders.
The Brazilian Supreme Court has remained silent on the matter, while X assured that users in Brazil can still access the platform, as confirmed by billionaire Elon Musk over the weekend.
Judge Moraes had issued orders to block X accounts accused of spreading disinformation, particularly those supporting former president Jair Bolsonaro. Following criticism from Musk, the judge imposed hefty fines for each reactivated account and initiated an investigation into Musk for alleged obstruction of justice.
In response, X emphasized that its Brazilian staff had no control over content blocking decisions, placing the blame squarely on Judge Moraes for his aggressive tactics. The company announced the closure of its Brazil operations to protect its employees, denouncing Moraes' actions as undemocratic.
Musk echoed these sentiments on X, calling for Moraes' resignation and expressing the difficulty of the decision to close the Brazil office. He emphasized that complying with Moraes' demands would compromise the company's integrity.
The clash between X and Brazilian authorities highlights the increasing tension between tech platforms and government regulations, raising concerns about freedom of expression and censorship. Investors should monitor these developments closely, as they could impact X's operations and reputation in Brazil and beyond.