A Brazilian judge has ordered X to block accounts accused of spreading ‘fake news.’
Social media giant X will end operations in Brazil, although its service will remain available to users in the country for the time being.
The decision comes as the company’s latest response to actions by Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Earlier this year, Moraes ordered X to block certain accounts, as he investigates so-called “digital militias” that have been accused of spreading fake news and hate messages during the government of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
X owner Elon Musk was included as part of the criminal inquiry into individuals who allegedly spread false information about Brazil’s election and justice system.In a post on Aug. 17, Musk said there was no other option but to shut down X’s Brazilian office, rather than give in to de Moraes’ orders.
“Due to demands by ‘Justice’ Alexandre in Brazil that would require us to break (in secret) Brazilian, Argentinian, American and international law, has no choice but to close our local operations in Brazil,” Musk said in the post.
“The decision to close the office in Brazil was difficult, but, if we had agreed to Alexandre’s (illegal) secret censorship and private