Social media platform X announced on Saturday its decision to cease operations in Brazil following alleged threats from Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The company cited concerns that its legal representative in Brazil would face arrest if they did not comply with orders issued by de Moraes.
X stated that it would be withdrawing all remaining staff from Brazil with immediate effect, although services would still be accessible to Brazilian users. The company did not provide clarity on how it intended to suspend operations while ensuring continued service provision to the Brazilian populace.
Earlier this year, X had clashed with de Moraes on issues related to free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation on the platform. The company viewed the recent directives from de Moraes as censorship and made the document public on X.
The Brazilian Supreme Court's press office did not respond to requests for comment or verification of the document when contacted by the Associated Press.
In contrast to the United States, where free speech is protected as a constitutional right, Brazil has stricter regulations. In April, de Moraes initiated investigations into CEO Elon Musk for allegedly spreading defamatory fake news and other potential offenses.
De Moraes has faced criticism from Brazil's political right for what they perceive as excessive measures to curb free speech and target political opponents. His actions have included investigating former President Jair Bolsonaro, banning far-right allies from social media, and ordering the arrest of individuals involved in the January 8, 2023, government building incident.
X condemned de Moraes' actions, accusing him of prioritizing threats against their Brazilian staff over upholding legal processes. Musk, the owner of X, criticized de Moraes on social media, labeling him as a 'disgrace to justice.'
