In a bold and fiery response, tech billionaire Elon Musk took to his X platform on Monday, declaring that Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes should be incarcerated. This outburst came after Brazil’s high court upheld a temporary ban on X, the social media platform owned by Musk.
“De Moraes deserves prison for his crimes,” Musk posted on Sept. 2, reacting to the court’s decision that solidified the weekend ban. The ban was initially imposed after Musk failed to appoint a legal representative by a court-mandated deadline, a requirement in an ongoing case involving the suspension of certain accounts accused of spreading misinformation and hate speech as part of so-called digital militias.
De Moraes deserves prison for his crimes https://t.co/8ECAlfqO2J
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 2, 2024
A Clash of Titans: Musk vs. Brazilian Judiciary
The tension between Musk and Justice de Moraes has been escalating for months. Following the judge’s Friday ruling, a panel of justices unanimously agreed to uphold the decision on Monday, further fueling Musk’s public condemnation.
Musk stated, “He should be impeached for violating his oath of office”
The billionaire has repeatedly lashed out at de Moraes on X, accusing him of gross overreach. Musk’s posts have become increasingly severe, stating, “He should be impeached for violating his oath of office” and predicting that “it’s only a matter of time before this criminal is behind bars.” He didn’t stop there, labeling the judge a “dictator” and likening him to “de Voldemort.”
Musk’s criticism underscores the broader debate over free speech and judicial power, especially as he contends, “X is the most used news source in Brazil. It is what the people want. Now, the tyrant de Voldemort is crushing the people’s right to free speech.”
Impact Beyond Words: Starlink Accounts Frozen
The fallout from this legal battle isn’t limited to social media. The Brazilian court’s ruling has also affected Starlink, the satellite internet provider partially owned by Musk, with the court freezing its financial accounts in Brazil. This development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute, putting further strain on Musk’s business interests in the country.
He should be impeached for violating his oath of office https://t.co/ckWICyeGZX
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 2, 2024
The Legal Hurdles Ahead
Justice de Moraes’ decision also mandated the full and immediate suspension of X in Brazil until all related court orders are fulfilled. This includes the payment of fines totaling 18.5 million reais ($3.28 million) and the appointment of a legal representative within the country. X has claimed that de Moraes’ demand for a legal representative is a ploy to ensure someone is available for arrest, should the platform fail to comply with the court’s orders.
As the ban persists, millions of X users in Brazil find themselves cut off from a platform that many have relied on for news and communication, leaving them scrambling to find alternative ways to stay connected to the world.
