Social media giant X, led by Elon Musk, has made the drastic decision to cease its operations in Brazil after facing intense pressure from the country’s Supreme Court. The move follows a secret order from Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who demanded that X comply with government censorship directives or face arrest warrants and heavy fines.
Moraes, a key ally of President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva, has long been accused of overstepping his authority in the name of defending democracy. His censorship orders have frequently targeted conservative voices and supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, raising concerns that Brazil’s judiciary has become an enforcer of leftist interests rather than a defender of impartial justice.
X’s global government affairs team issued a statement explaining their decision to shutter operations in Brazil: “Despite our numerous appeals to the Supreme Court not being heard, the Brazilian public not being informed about these orders, and our Brazilian staff having no responsibility or control over whether content is blocked, Moraes has chosen to threaten our staff rather than respect the law or due process.”
This shutdown comes as part of a broader pattern of censorship and suppression under Lula’s government, which has increasingly relied on Moraes’ expansive powers to silence opposition. Moraes’ influence grew significantly after he played a critical role in freeing Lula from prison in 2018, enabling the socialist leader to regain political power.
Musk has weighed in on the situation, highlighting the importance of free speech protections in the United States. “A reminder that free speech in America is special and we need to do everything possible to preserve it,” Musk stated.
The closure of X’s operations in Brazil serves as a stark example of how quickly freedom of expression can be eroded when a single judge holds unchecked power. As Brazil faces rising authoritarianism under Lula’s presidency, the international community is left questioning the future of democracy in the country.
