A judge from the Supreme Court of Brazil this Sunday ordered the opening of an investigation against Elon Musk, owner of the X platform, who accused him of “censorship” and asked for his resignation from that social network.
First modification:
2 min
With Joan Royo, RFI correspondent in Rio de Janeiro
Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes determined on Sunday that the owner of X, the former Twitter, Elon Musk be investigated for alleged crimes of obstruction of justice and incitement to crime.
It all started on Saturday, when Musk decided to confront this judge known in recent years in Brazil for his investigations against the use of disinformation on social networks, especially by radical Bolsonarism.
The American magnate asked him why he is demanding so much censorship in Brazil. Later, he threatened to reactivate accounts of members of the extreme right suspended by justice in recent years, even if this ended up causing the closure of X in Brazil.
“We will probably lose all our revenue in Brazil and have to close our offices there. But principles are more important than profits,” Musk said.
Coming shortly, ? will publish everything demanded by @Alexandre and how those requests violate Brazilian law.
This judge has bravely and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached.
Shame @Alexandreshame.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 7, 2024
“This judge has blatantly and repeatedly betrayed the Constitution and the people of Brazil. “He should resign or be dismissed,” he said on the social network that he acquired mostly in 2022.
Musk also promised to soon publish “all of Alexandre de Moraes' (judicial) requests and how these requests violate the law.”
The judge responded on Sunday by determining that an investigation be opened against Musk. In his decision, he stated that his threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation attacks Brazil's sovereignty.
De Moraes ruled that “social network per reactivated profile.
In recent years, the judge himself has ordered the blocking of accounts on X, some of which are suspected of spreading disinformation.
“Social networks are not lawless lands,” he stressed in capital letters in his sentence.
Many of Bolsonaro's supporters, however, praised the billionaire's attitude.
“I hope it has started something historic: the return of freedom to our country,” said deputy Nikolas Ferreira in X.
This judge has been investigating the so-called digital militias for some time, which Bolsonaro promoted to attack his rivals and threaten the democratic system.
One of its objectives now is to ensure that social networks do not contaminate the municipal elections that Brazil will hold at the end of the year with misinformation again.
