The billionaire Elon Muskowner of the social network X (formerly Twitter)caused controversy by publishing on his profile an image created by artificial intelligence that compares the minister Alexander de Moraes to franchise villains Harry Potter and Star Wars. The post comes at a time of tension between Musk and the Federal Supreme Court (STF)following a court order involving the platform’s operation in Brazil.
Representative in Brazil
On Wednesday, August 28, Alexandre de Moraes, a minister of the STF, ordered Elon Musk to appoint, within 24 hours, a new legal representative for X in Brazil. If the order was not complied with, the minister threatened to suspend the social network’s operations in the country. The subpoena was sent by the STF’s official account on the platform itself, marking both X’s institutional profile and Elon Musk’s personal profile.
Summons
According to Andre Marsiglia, a constitutional lawyer and freedom of expression expert, the subpoena issued by Moraes may be considered invalid. Marsiglia argues that, according to Brazilian procedural law, a foreign citizen like Musk should receive the subpoena through a letter rogatory, and not by electronic means, which makes the procedure questionable.
Threats and Censorship
Since August 17, X (Twitter) has closed its office in Brazil and currently has no lawyers in the country. Elon Musk justified this decision by alleging threats and censorship by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, who is conducting investigations related to the dissemination of disinformation and attacks on Brazilian institutions, allegedly facilitated by the platform.
Fake news
The social network has refused to comply with orders from Alexandre de Moraes to remove blocked profiles as part of investigations into the spread of fake news and attacks on democratic institutions. This resistance has contributed to increased tensions between Musk and Brazilian authorities.
Regulation
The situation involving Elon Musk, Twitter (X) and Alexandre de Moraes illustrates the growing conflict between large digital platforms and national regulations, especially in contexts where court decisions directly affect the operations of these companies. The outcome of this dispute could have significant implications for the future of freedom of expression and platform liability in Brazil.
Summary for those in a hurry:
- Elon Musk published an image comparing Alexandre de Moraes to movie villains.
- Moraes gave Musk 24 hours to appoint a new legal representative for X (Twitter) in Brazil.
- STF sent the summons through the X platform itself.
- Lawyer claims subpoena may be invalid as it did not follow proper process.
- As of August 17, X has no office or lawyers in Brazil.
- Growing tension between Musk and Brazilian authorities due to resistance to complying with court orders.
Source: Atrevida
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
