Elon Musk has accused Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes of carrying out “censorship orders” following the ban on his social media platform X. The ban was implemented after Musk refused to name a legal representative in Brazil, citing censorship concerns. Chief Justice Luis Roberto Barroso defended the ban, stating that a company must comply with Brazilian laws to operate in the country.
Despite the ban, many Brazilian social media users have switched to alternative platforms like Meta’s Threads and BlueSky, co-founded by Jack Dorsey. These platforms have seen a significant increase in user activity since the ban on X. Some legal experts have questioned the grounds for the ban and the enforceability of fines imposed on those using VPNs to access X.
Opposition to the ban has been voiced by politicians like right-wing congressman Nikolas Ferreira, who called it dystopian, and lawmaker Bia Kicis, who warned of regrettable consequences for Brazilians. Former President Jair Bolsonaro criticized the ban as a blow to freedom and legal security, while current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva supported the Supreme Court’s decision.
The ban on X in Brazil has sparked a debate on freedom of expression, the role of international companies in the country, and the authority of the Supreme Court. As the Supreme Court prepares to vote on upholding the ban, tensions between tech giants, political figures, and the judiciary continue to escalate in Brazil.
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