Four Brazilian Supreme Court Judges Uphold Suspension of X
Far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro (L) and Elon Musk (R). Photo: X/ @BenjaminNorton
September 2, 2024 Hour: 11:44 am
Another judicial conflict has emerged with Elon Musk, who also refused to comply with the suspension of Starlink.
On Monday, the First Chamber of Brazil’s Supreme Court consolidated a majority of votes in favor of the precautionary decision that suspended the services of the social network X in the country due to repeated noncompliance by magnate Elon Musk with various rulings from that court.
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The five justices that make up the chamber are casting their votes virtually throughout the day, and the first four votes have already favored upholding the suspension of X’s service, which has been gradually enforced since the early hours of Saturday. The decision cannot yet be considered final since any of the five judges can change their vote until the end of the session, although that is unlikely.
The first vote came from the case’s rapporteur, Alexandre de Moraes, whom Musk has labeled a “dictator” and insulted for months on X itself, after the judge ordered the suspension of dozens of accounts as part of a process involving the massive spread of fake news and attacks on democracy and its institutions. None of these orders were fulfilled, and Musk even withdrew his legal representatives from Brazil, claiming they were under threat of imprisonment by De Moraes.
In his vote, De Moraes cited the “repeated, conscious, and voluntary noncompliance with court orders and the payment of fines” imposed by the court on Musk’s company, totaling around US$4 million.
According to the Supreme Court president, this was intended to “establish an environment of total impunity and a ‘lawless land'” and to facilitate “the activities of extremist groups and digital militias on social networks” through a “massive dissemination of Nazi, racist, fascist, hate-filled, and anti-democratic speech.”
In addition to the precautionary measure against X, another judicial conflict has emerged with Starlink, also owned by Musk, which has refused to comply with the suspension of the social network in Brazil.
Starlink’s accounts, which offer satellite internet services and have about 215,000 active lines in Brazil, have been blocked by De Moraes to ensure the payment of fines imposed on X. Despite this, the internet company announced on Sunday that it would not comply with the decision against X until the blockade on its accounts is lifted.
The sanctions against the South African magnate’s companies were imposed amid the campaign for the upcoming municipal elections in October, which has heightened the polarization between the far-right, activists and the progressive forces. Former President Jair Bolsonaro claims there is an ideological persecution against conservatives and libertarians, while President Lula da Silva has stated that any foreign company operating in Brazil must respect the country’s judiciary.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
