Social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, has announced the closure of its operations in Brazil following a legal dispute with Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes. The shutdown was declared “effective immediately,” but Brazilian users will still have access to the platform. The decision comes after Moraes ordered X to block accounts spreading false news and hate messages, including those belonging to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Moraes has been advocating for the fight against disinformation online and has emphasized the importance of responsible freedom of expression. The closure of X in Brazil is seen as a response to pressure from the judge, who reportedly threatened an X representative with arrest if the platform did not comply with his orders. The Supreme Court has not confirmed the authenticity of the document shared by X.
Billionaire owner Elon Musk, who has been involved in the legal battle, called Moraes “an utter disgrace to justice” in a social media post. Musk had previously challenged Moraes’ orders to block certain accounts, but later agreed to comply with the legal rulings. The decision to close X’s office in Brazil was described as difficult by Musk, who expressed concern over violating Brazilian, Argentinian, American, and international law.
The closure of X in Brazil reflects the growing struggle between social media platforms and governments over the regulation of online content. The legal battle highlights the complexities of addressing disinformation while upholding freedom of expression in the digital age.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
