Brazil’s Supreme Court has threatened to suspend social media platform X’s operations in that country unless chief executive Elon Musk names a new legal representative for the company by Thursday evening local time.
The threat comes out of a larger series of actions by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who previously directed the suspension of dozens of accounts on X for allegedly spreading disinformation. In April, he initiated an investigation, claiming Musk himself reactivated some of the suspended accounts.
Referring to X, ReadWrite reported the judge saying: “The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil.”
@STF_oficial intima Elon Musk e X a indicarem representante legal em até 24 horas, sob pena de suspensão de atividades no Brasil https://t.co/SV21xQcJue
— STF (@STF_oficial) August 28, 2024
A subpoena has since been published to X by the court’s official account, in response to an Aug. 17 post by X’s own Global Government Affairs account.
Last week, Moraes warned he would arrest the platform’s legal representative in Brazil unless specific accounts and posts were removed. In response, X terminated all its staff in the country and ceased its operations in Brazil.
Under Brazilian law, the platform must still have legal representation in the country. If the Thursday deadline is not met, X’s operations could be suspended in Brazil.
In another Aug. 17 statement, X accused Moraes of threatening staff, forcing the company to “close our operation in Brazil, effective immediately.”
“The people of Brazil have a choice to make – democracy, or Alexandre de Moraesm the company added. However, the platform will remain available for users in the country.
Last night, Alexandre de Moraes threatened our legal representative in Brazil with arrest if we do not comply with his censorship orders. He did so in a secret order, which we share here to expose his actions.
Despite our numerous appeals to the Supreme Court not being heard,… pic.twitter.com/Pm2ovyydhE
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) August 17, 2024
In April, Musk responded to the claims by accusing Moraes of having “brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil.” Musk added Moraes “should resign or be impeached.”
Musk is also being investigated in a separate legal inquiry concerning an alleged plot involving the use of public funds to orchestrate disinformation campaigns that helped former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and his associates.
Featured image: Midjourney
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