A Brazil Supreme Court judge has initiated an investigation into Elon Musk, the CEO of X, for alleged obstruction of justice after Musk vowed to defy a court order blocking certain accounts on his platform within the country. The investigation comes amidst a broader crackdown on social media accounts spreading misinformation and hate speech in Brazil.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued a stern warning to X, ordering the platform to refrain from disobeying judicial orders, including the reactivation of any account previously blocked by the Supreme Court. In defiance of the court’s directive, Musk criticized Justice de Moraes on X, accusing him of betraying the Brazilian constitution and people. Musk further asserted that principles mattered more than profit, indicating X’s potential withdrawal from Brazil due to the dispute.
De Moraes’s order imposes hefty fines of 100,000 reais ($19,770) per day for each account reinstated in defiance of the court order, emphasizing that social networks are not beyond the law. The judge’s action follows X’s announcement of receiving a court order to block certain accounts, although the specifics of the blocked accounts and the timing of the court order remain unclear.
Brazil’s Solicitor General Jorge Messias expressed support for Justice de Moraes, denouncing the influence of foreign billionaires in violating the rule of law. De Moraes, a polarizing figure in Brazil, has been hailed as a defender of democracy for his efforts to combat disinformation and hate speech online, while simultaneously facing criticism from the political right.
Since last year, De Moraes has overseen investigations into former President Jair Bolsonaro over allegations of planning a military coup and spreading false information about the electoral system. Bolsonaro, who met Musk in 2022 to discuss satellite internet projects, has described Musk as a “legend of liberty.”
The legal battle between Elon Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court underscores the complexities surrounding social media regulation, freedom of speech, and the rule of law in the digital age.
