Elon Musk’s X has closed its offices in Brazil after the country’s Supreme Court escalated its censorship demands to an alarming level. The shutdown comes in response to threats made by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who ordered the arrest of X’s legal representatives in Brazil and imposed fines unless the platform complied with demands to block certain accounts critical of the government.
Moraes, who has been a key ally to socialist President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, has a history of using the judiciary to silence conservative voices and shield leftist figures from scrutiny. In recent years, his judicial overreach has grown to unprecedented levels, with the judge increasingly wielding unchecked power under the guise of protecting democracy.
In a statement, X’s global government affairs team said they were left with no choice but to shut down operations in Brazil due to the threats made against their employees. “Despite our numerous appeals to the Supreme Court not being heard, the Brazilian public not being informed about these orders, and our Brazilian staff having no responsibility or control over whether content is blocked, Moraes has chosen to threaten our staff rather than respect the law or due process,” the statement read.
Moraes’ actions are the latest in a series of moves targeting critics of Lula and those aligned with former President Jair Bolsonaro. The judge’s aggressive censorship tactics have included banning accounts of right-wing politicians and commentators, blocking content on social media, and even ordering the arrest of protestors.
Musk has criticized the situation, reminding users that the United States’ First Amendment protections are unique and should be defended at all costs. “A reminder that free speech in America is special and we need to do everything possible to preserve it,” Musk posted on X.
Moraes’ authority has expanded significantly since he played a pivotal role in freeing Lula from prison in 2018, allowing the socialist leader to reclaim power. Critics argue that his unchecked power and censorship tactics have created an authoritarian atmosphere that undermines Brazil’s democracy rather than protects it.
X’s shutdown in Brazil underscores the troubling state of free speech in the country, where a single judge’s influence has grown so extensive that even global tech giants are forced to cease operations in response to government overreach. The situation raises concerns not only for Brazil but also for other nations where freedom of expression is under threat.
