X has announced the immediate cessation of its operations in Brazil, citing threats from Alexandre de Moraes, a prominent Brazilian official who demanded the removal of content from the platform. Instead of complying, X has chosen to shut down its local operations to safeguard its employees. This decision was provoked by de Moraes’ alleged illegal censorship demands, prompting X owner Elon Musk to speak out against what he believes to be a violation of Brazilian, Argentinian, American, and international laws. Despite repeated appeals to the Supreme Court, X claims they were unheard and that de Moraes acted in a manner incompatible with democratic principles. Musk’s defiance of de Moraes’ orders earlier in the year led to an obstruction of justice inquiry, culminating in X’s compliance with court rulings. A House Judiciary Committee report revealed that the Brazilian government was pressuring social media platforms, including X, to censor numerous accounts, sparking controversy and ultimately leading to X’s decision to cease operations in Brazil. Unfortunately, X does not currently have a public relations team available for further comments on the situation.
