The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil ordered this Sunday an investigation against the American billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the X platform, for his attacks on the Brazilian justice system his threat not to comply with orders to block accounts on the social network.
The investigations of alleged offenses of “criminal and malicious manipulation” of the platform and obstruction of justice were ordered by the judge Alexandre de Moraes, one of the members of the Supreme Court and responsible for a trial on the use of social networks to spread false news and attacks on democracy.
The decision was published this Sunday on the Supreme Court website after the tycoon wrote in a message on his X account accused De Moraes of introducing censorship in Brazil by condemning him to block various profiles on the social network without giving reasons.
Musk had already warned on Saturday that he would defy the judge’s decisions if it resulted in multiple fines and forced him to close the company in Brazil, as he said defending freedom of expression was more important than profits.
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In his decision, De Moraes decided to include Musk in the investigation he was conducting into the existence of networks dedicated to spreading false news and attacks on democracy through social networks due to alleged “deliberate manipulation” of Platform X.
He also determined a separate investigation against the tycoon for the crime of obstruction of justice in the proceedings for criminal organization and incitement to commit a crime.
De Moraes also warned the platform daily fine of 100,000 reais (approximately $20,000) for each active account.
The dispute between Musk and Brazilian authorities began on Saturday when the X Network reported that it had been forced by a court order to “suspend certain popular accounts in Brazil.” Later, the millionaire said that in the fight against censorship he would lift all restrictions imposed by the judiciary, despite the possible consequences.
“The blatant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement to crime, public threats of disobedience to court orders and refusal to cooperate by the platform are facts that disrespect Brazil’s sovereignty and reinforce the connection between the platform’s activities.”
He also warned in capital letters that social networks are not a lawless land or no man’s land and that they owe absolute respect to Brazilian laws.
On the same Sunday, Brazilian MP Gleisi Hoffmann, leader of the Workers’ Party (PT), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s party, accused Musk of endangering democracy in Brazil through his attacks on the judiciary.
The parliamentarian said that with his repeated attacks on the judiciary and the electoral court, the tycoon “directly threatens the democratic rule of law and institutions in our country.”