Elon Musk Under Investigation in Brazil for Allegedly Influencing Public Opinion

Brazil has initiated an inquiry into Elon Musk, accusing him of “illegally influencing public opinion” via X, formerly known as Twitter.

The investigation points to potential abuse of economic power by Musk, who has frequently found himself at the centre of controversy, particularly following his takeover of X. Musk advocates strongly for free speech on the platform, and this stance has now drawn scrutiny from Brazilian authorities.

The Brazilian Supreme Court has highlighted that social media platforms must adhere to legal standards, emphasizing that Musk’s actions may constitute an obstruction of justice and incitement to hatred by attempting to sway public opinion unlawfully. This scrutiny aligns with Musk’s public criticisms of X against Alexandre de Moraes, a Brazilian Supreme Court judge.

In one notable post, Musk accused Judge de Moraes of violating Brazilian law and called for his resignation, citing betrayal of the Constitution and the Brazilian people. Following these allegations, Musk disclosed that he had been compelled to block certain Brazilian accounts by court order, though he did not specify the accounts or the legal violations involved.

Musk’s response to the Supreme Court’s actions includes challenging the orders legally. He asserts that these mandates conflict with the civil Internet framework and the Brazilian Constitution, advocating for the freedom of expression for the Brazilian people.