Jakarta, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Brazil’s Supreme Court recently ordered the seizure of over $3 million from companies owned by Elon Musk, including his social media platform X and satellite internet provider Starlink.
The ruling followed a dispute over X’s refusal to comply with a court mandate to remove far-right accounts accused of spreading disinformation.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, imposed the fine after X failed to appoint a legal representative in Brazil as required. Moraes also ordered the temporary shutdown of X’s operations in the country.
In addition to freezing assets, the court decreed that those attempting to bypass the platform’s ban using VPNs could face fines up to $9,000.
Moraes’ decision comes amid growing tension between Musk’s companies and the Brazilian judiciary, which has been focused on curbing disinformation, particularly in the aftermath of the 2022 Brazilian elections. Moraes, a key figure in Brazil’s fight against fake news, has clashed with Musk on multiple occasions due to X’s perceived leniency toward disinformation, which Brazil’s government sees as a significant threat to public stability.
Elon Musk, born in South Africa, has expanded his business footprint in Brazil, particularly through Starlink, which has been operational in remote areas of the Amazon since 2022. X, previously known as Twitter, has over 22 million users in Brazil, making it a significant social media player in the country.
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The dispute has sparked a broader debate over freedom of expression, with left-leaning President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva supporting the court’s actions, while his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, has criticized Moraes, accusing him of authoritarianism.
The legal clash highlights the growing tension between tech companies and government regulations in managing online content.
(Ray)
