Written by Anthony Boadle
BRASILIA (Reuters) – The decision by Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes to shut down billionaire Elon Musk’s social media platform X is the latest development in his ongoing campaign against perceived threats to democracy and the misuse of disinformation for political purposes.
“We have the right to defend fundamental rights. Those who undermine democracy, who violate essential human rights, whether in person or through social media, must be held accountable,” Moraes stated in a speech on Friday, without explicitly mentioning X or his ruling.
On Friday, Moraes issued a comprehensive and immediate suspension of X in Brazil until all court orders related to X were complied with, including the payment of fines totaling 18.5 million reais ($3.28 million) and the appointment of a legal representative in Brazil.
Moraes instructed the telecommunications regulator Anatel to enforce the suspension order and report to the court within 24 hours that it had been implemented.
Musk, who also serves as the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, previously condemned the impending action as censorship.
Moraes, aged 55, has a background in law enforcement and gained prominence in 2019 for leading an investigation into the spread of “fake news” during the administration of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
His investigation, which is ongoing, focused on a purported “cabinet of hate” within Bolsonaro’s government that aimed to discredit adversaries and disseminate falsehoods.
Under Moraes’ direction, the country’s electoral authority disqualified Bolsonaro from holding office for eight years, marking the first instance of such an action against a Brazilian president.
While supporters view Moraes as a champion of democracy, critics accuse him of using aggressive tactics such as raiding homes of politicians and businessmen, detaining them without trial, and freezing their assets.
Musk has likened Moraes to a fictional villain and labeled him a “dictator,” asserting that he is masquerading as a judge.
In his efforts to combat misinformation, Moraes has directed social media platforms to remove posts by politicians and influencers that he deems threatening to Brazil’s institutions, particularly from supporters of Bolsonaro who deny his electoral defeat.
The clash between Moraes and Musk’s platform began when Musk contested the decision to restrict certain accounts and announced intentions to reactivate them, prompting Moraes to initiate an inquiry into Musk for obstruction of justice.
Recently, X announced the closure of its Brazilian offices citing “censorship orders” from Moraes, although the platform remains accessible to Brazilian users.
Moraes warned that he would suspend X if it failed to comply with Brazilian legal requirements, leading him to freeze the local bank accounts of Musk’s Starlink internet company as a precaution against potential fines.
While many Brazilians support Moraes in his stance that Musk must adhere to Brazilian laws, some question whether he has overstepped his judicial bounds in his handling of social media matters.
Before joining the Supreme Court, Moraes served as the Minister of Justice and held positions in public security in Sao Paulo, his home state.
Known for his conservative economic views, Moraes is affiliated with the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, a centrist party that has waned in influence over the years.
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