In Brazil, a Supreme Court justice has issued an ultimatum to X, formerly known as Twitter, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, threatening to close down its operations in the country unless Musk appoints a legal representative in Brazil within 24 hours.
The conflict between Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Musk’s platform has been ongoing, with previous disputes over free speech, accounts linked to the far-right, and misinformation, and X claiming to be a victim of censorship.
In response to threats from de Moraes, X announced earlier this month that it was withdrawing all remaining staff from Brazil immediately.
The Supreme Court informed X of de Moraes’ ultimatum through a response to a post on the company’s global government affairs account on the social platform.
Failure to comply with the order could result in the suspension of X’s social media activities in Brazil, according to a statement from the court.
While the United States has strong constitutional protections for free speech, Brazil has stricter regulations. De Moraes previously ordered an investigation into Musk regarding the spread of defamatory fake news and other potential offenses including obstruction, incitement, and criminal organization.
Critics from Brazil’s political right have accused de Moraes of exceeding his authority by restricting free speech and engaging in political persecution, while his supporters argue that his actions are legally sound, backed by most of the court, and aimed at safeguarding democracy during challenging times.