A Supreme Court judge in Brazil has ordered an investigation into Elon Musk after the tech billionaire criticized the magistrate and accused him of censorship for blocking social media accounts suspected of spreading disinformation. Judge Alexandre de Moraes accused Elon Musk of “criminal instrumentalization” of the platform, stating that “social network X must refrain from disobeying judicial orders, including by reactivating an account that the Supreme Court ordered blocked.”
Judge Moraes threatened to punish Elon Musk with a fine equivalent to about $20,000 for each reactivated account on the platform. Musk, in response to the judge’s actions, took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter which he purchased in 2022, to launch a series of attacks against Moraes. Musk accused the judge of betraying the constitution and people of Brazil and called for his resignation or impeachment.
A Divisive Judicial Figure
Judge Moraes, who is one of the 11 members on Brazil’s high court and presides over the country’s Superior Electoral Tribunal, has been a controversial figure. While some see him as a fervent defender of democracy, others view him as tyrannical. Critics, including Elon Musk, have accused Moraes of leading a crackdown against free speech in Brazil. Moraes has been actively fighting against disinformation in the country and has ordered the suspension of influential figures’ social media accounts, most of whom are supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The legal battle between Elon Musk and Judge Moraes comes at a time of heightened political tensions in Brazil. Former President Bolsonaro, who was declared ineligible to run for office by the Moraes-led TSE in 2023, is also facing investigations over an attempted coup to prevent his electoral defeat against the current leftist president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The clash between Musk and Moraes reflects the broader struggle for democracy and free speech in the South American nation.
The legal battle between Elon Musk and Judge Moraes underscores the challenges of regulating social media platforms and combating disinformation in a democratic society. The clash between the tech billionaire and the Supreme Court judge reflects the complex political landscape in Brazil and the ongoing debate over free speech and censorship. As the investigation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the legal system and social media platforms navigate these contentious issues.