Elon Musk’s X Shuts Down Brazil Operations Over Censorship Orders

Elon Musk’s X announced the imminent closure of its operations in Brazil, citing “censorship orders” issued by Judge Alexandre de Moraes.

The company expressed concerns after de Moraes allegedly issued a covert threat of arrest against its legal representative in Brazil for non-compliance with orders to remove certain content. Although the Supreme Court, where de Moraes serves, has yet to comment, X confirmed that its services will continue to be accessible to Brazilian users.

Earlier this year, de Moraes directed X to suspend specific accounts as part of an investigation into “digital militias” accused of disseminating false information and hate speech during former President Jair Bolsonaro’s tenure.

Following Musk’s promise to restore blocked accounts, which he labelled “unconstitutional,” X initially challenged these orders. However, it subsequently assured the Supreme Court its intention to adhere to legal mandates.

In April, X’s legal team in Brazil acknowledged to the Supreme Court that “operational issues” had permitted the continued activity of users who were supposed to be blocked, following de Moraes’s request for an explanation regarding the alleged non-compliance.