Social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, has announced the closure of its local operations in Brazil due to a legal dispute with Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes over censorship and disinformation.
The Brazilian government has condemned X’s decision, with Secretary of Digital Policies Joao Brant calling it a “pathetic attitude” that may lead to the platform’s blocking.
The closure follows a series of legal battles between Musk and Moraes, who has sought to combat disinformation and ordered the suspension of several Twitter accounts, including those of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters.
Moraes has maintained that “freedom of expression doesn’t mean freedom of aggression” and has spearheaded the fight against disinformation in Brazil.
Musk has accused Moraes of cracking down on free speech and stated that X would not comply with censorship orders, prioritizing “principles over profit”.
Despite the closure of local operations, X will remain accessible to Brazilian users, who will continue to use the platform.
