Europe may expel Twitter from there after closure in Brazil

Elon Musk paid $44 billion for Twitter in 2022, and the question that won’t go away is: did he buy it to go bankrupt? Since the billionaire took over, the platform, now known as “X” (because apparently he doesn’t like simple things like whole words), has faced more problems than the protagonist of a Mexican soap opera. With the possibility of closing its operations outside the United States, Musk seems to be testing whether he can turn the social network into a lawless land.

Advertisers: Sorry, I’m Out

Even though the United States has very relaxed legislation regarding what can and cannot be said online, the country’s biggest advertisers decided to say goodbye to Twitter. And Musk, as always, decided not to let it go: he decided to sue them! Because, after all, who needs advertisers when you can fight them, right? The problem is that, without ads, Twitter (or X, for those close to it) is already in the red. The result? Cuts and more cuts, including the closure of the headquarters in Brazil, because who needs tropical heat when you have global problems?

Brazil, Judges and Tweets – A Brazilian Drama

In Brazil, Musk has decided that the blame for everything lies with Minister Alexandre de Moraes, and not with the millions he invested in the social network. Instead of following local laws, he has chosen to follow his own libertarian mantra, saying that he would rather close his office in Brazil than obey court orders. It seems that, for Musk, disobedience is an art form, and now Twitter could be banned in Brazil at any moment. Who would have thought that the richest man in the world would be at war with a tropical country?

Europe: Where Drama Becomes Reality

The European Union is also not impressed with Musk’s way of doing business. Thierry Breton, the EU commissioner, is keeping a close eye on X’s compliance with European laws, especially after Musk helped to inflame tensions during riots in the UK. And if you think the EU is just making threats, think again. The possibility of X being banned in Europe is now as real as your aunt’s messages in the family group.

Global Conflicts and Spicy Comments

Musk isn’t content to just fight with Brazil and Europe. In the UK, he said the country was becoming a “police state,” and in Australia, he refused to remove violent videos of X, because, of course, nothing says “free speech” like disobeying court orders. In Canada, Musk laughed in the face of an anti-hate bill and even shared conspiracy theories, because a good laugh at a government’s expense never hurts, right?

Silence

Now, when it comes to China, India, or Turkey, Musk has adopted a “silence is golden” policy. Apparently, when you have billion-dollar businesses in those countries, freedom of speech is a much more flexible concept. Instead of making inflammatory speeches, he’s content to obey the laws of the land, especially when those laws include removing anything the governments of those countries don’t like. And let’s be honest: when money talks, even Twitter listens.

Hate as a Business?

While Musk is having fun pouring gasoline on the fire, he also seems to have found a business model that works: engagement at all costs. With big advertisers out of the game, Twitter is increasingly relying on cheap ads — many of which are, ironically, rip-offs for the platform’s own users. And so Musk’s Twitter is heading, perhaps toward collapse, but at least with a lot of noise along the way.

Summary for those in a hurry:

• Elon Musk is taking Twitter down a path fraught with legal troubles and the risk of being banned in several countries.
• The flight of advertisers worsens the platform’s financial crisis.
• In Brazil, Musk clashes with the law and could end up seeing Twitter banned.
• The European Union is investigating Twitter, seriously considering banning it.
• Musk adopts a combative stance in democracies, but turns a blind eye in authoritarian regimes.
• Twitter may be sustaining itself on a business model based on hate and controversy.