Musk Feuds with Brazilian Judge Over X’s Ban Risk

Elon Musk’s clash with Brazilian authorities escalated dramatically early Thursday morning, as the billionaire entrepreneur openly mocked and attacked a Brazilian Supreme Court judge. This confrontation occurred just hours after Musk’s social media platform, X, was given a 24-hour ultimatum to appoint a local legal representative or face an imminent ban in Brazil.

The order, issued by Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, was posted on X on Wednesday evening. It required Musk to comply by 8 p.m. local time on Thursday. This legal stipulation is part of Brazil’s broader regulations, which mandate that major online platforms operating within the country must have a local legal representative. This rule aims to ensure that platforms are accountable and can address legal issues and compliance matters directly within the jurisdiction.

Musk, who has been publicly feuding with Moraes for several months, responded with a fresh round of criticism. On Thursday, he accused the judge of repeatedly breaking the laws he is supposed to uphold. In his social media post, Musk highlighted X’s recent achievement of being the top news app on Apple’s App Store in Brazil, seemingly to underscore the platform’s popularity and influence despite the legal troubles.

In a separate post, Musk took a more personal jab at Moraes, sharing a digitally altered image of the judge holding red light sabers. The image humorously depicted Moraes with characteristics resembling both Voldemort from the Harry Potter series and a Sith Lord from Star Wars, accompanied by a caption suggesting the judge looked like a combination of the two fictional characters. This mockery reflects the deepening tension between Musk and the Brazilian judiciary.

The background to this conflict dates back to April, when Musk and X first clashed with Brazilian authorities. At that time, Judge Moraes had ordered an investigation into X, accusing the platform of hosting accounts that spread misinformation. In response, X’s Global Government Affairs team initially complied with a court order to block certain popular accounts in Brazil. However, the team expressed reluctance, noting that the court order did not specify which posts were illegal or provide reasons for the account suspensions.

Musk intervened by restoring the banned accounts and criticized Moraes, leading the judge to open an investigation into the billionaire. Moraes accused Musk of initiating a “disinformation campaign,” instigating disobedience and obstruction of justice, and declaring that X would cease to comply with Brazilian court orders.

This ongoing dispute has led to significant repercussions for X in Brazil. Earlier this month, the company’s Global Affairs team announced the closure of its offices in Brazil as a protective measure for its staff. This decision came after de Moraes threatened to arrest the company’s local legal representative if X did not comply with his censorship orders. Despite the closure of its offices, X stated that its service would remain accessible to users in Brazil.

In addition to his confrontation with Moraes, Musk amplified a post from one of his followers on Wednesday. The post criticized the Brazilian legal system and warned of potential similar issues in the United States if Vice President Kamala Harris were to win the presidential election. Musk, who has publicly supported former President Donald Trump for the upcoming election, endorsed the post with a simple “Absolutely,” indicating his agreement with the sentiment expressed.

This series of events underscores the intensifying dispute between Musk and Brazilian authorities, as well as the broader implications for global tech platforms navigating local legal requirements and political tensions. As the deadline for compliance approaches, the outcome of this confrontation remains uncertain, with potential ramifications for X’s operations in Brazil and Musk’s ongoing legal battles with international regulators.