X Closes Operations In Brazil Due To Sensor Orders From Judges

Brazilian Judge Alexandre de Moraes., ordered the closure of X (photo: x @alexandre)

JAKARTA - The social media platform X announced on Saturday 17 August that it would close operations in Brazil "immediately" because of what Brazilian Judge Alexandre de Moraes called a "sensorship order".

X, which is owned by billionaire Elon Musk, claims that Moraes has secretly threatened one of his legal representatives in Brazil with arrests if the platform does not comply with legal orders to remove some content from its platform.

The social media company published an image of a document allegedly signed by Moraes stating that a daily fine of 20,000 reais (Rp57.3 million) and an arrest shall be imposed on representative X, Rachel Nova Conceicao, if the platform does not fully comply with Moraes' orders.

"To protect the safety of our staff, we have decided to close our operations in Brazil, effective immediately," X said.

Brazil's Supreme Court, where Moraes became a member, said it would not comment on the matter and would neither confirm nor deny the authenticity of documents shared by X.

Service X remains available to Brazilians, the platform said on Saturday.

Earlier this year, Moraes ordered X to block certain accounts as he investigated the so-called "digital militias" accused of spreading false news and hate messages during the administration of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Moraes opened an investigation earlier this year against Elon Musk after Musk said he would reactivate accounts on X that the judge had ordered blocked. Musk called Moraes' decision related to X "inconstitutional."

After Musk's challenge, representative X then changed his attitude and told the Brazilian Supreme Court that the social media company would comply with legal decisions.

Lawyers representing X in Brazil in April told the Supreme Court that "operational errors" had allowed ordered users to remain active on social media platforms, after Moraes asked for an explanation from X why they did not fully comply with his decision.

In a post on X on Saturday, Musk referred to Moraes as "an end to justice" and said the company could not approve the "secret censorship and demands of submission of personal information" by the judge.