X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has ceased operations in Brazil following escalating threats from the country’s Supreme Court. The shutdown comes after Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued a secret order demanding the arrest of X officials and imposing heavy fines unless the platform complied with demands to censor certain accounts critical of President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva’s government.
Moraes, who has increasingly positioned himself as the enforcer of leftist interests in Brazil, has drawn widespread criticism for his aggressive tactics targeting conservative voices. Since Lula’s rise to power, the justice has wielded immense power, launching investigations and ordering censorship measures that many argue undermine free speech and democratic principles.
X’s decision to withdraw from Brazil highlights the growing authoritarianism in the country. In a statement, X’s global government affairs team emphasized that the platform’s staff had no control over the content in question, yet were still targeted by Moraes. “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.”
Musk added his voice to the conversation, emphasizing the unique value of America’s First Amendment protections: “A reminder that free speech in America is special and we need to do everything possible to preserve it.”
The closure of X’s Brazilian offices underscores the dangerous path Brazil is taking under Lula’s administration, where judicial overreach and censorship are being used to stifle dissent. Critics warn that the country is slipping into authoritarianism as the judiciary becomes increasingly politicized.
