Elon Musk, the owner of X Corp, recently made a bold announcement on Twitter regarding his decision to lift all restrictions on Brazilian accounts targeted by an order from Brazil’s Supreme Court. Musk stated that despite the potential loss of revenue and the need to shut down the company’s office in Brazil, he believes that principles matter more than profit.
The decision was sparked by investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger’s report titled “Twitter Files Brazil,” which shed light on Twitter’s internal communications prior to Musk’s takeover in 2022. The report alleged that Brazil’s Supreme Court is engaging in a widespread crackdown on free speech, led by a Supreme Court justice. Shellenberger revealed that sitting members of Brazil’s Congress and journalists were among those targeted by the court for censoring.
According to the internal files shared by Shellenberger, Twitter in Brazil faced a $30,000 fine and had one hour to remove posts by Congress members or pay the court for noncompliance. The report also highlighted instances where individuals were jailed without trial for their social media posts. Shellenberger further claimed that Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes violated Twitter’s own policies on user data handling by demanding access to internal data and ordering the deplatforming of specific users without any right of appeal.
The “Twitter Files” also indicated that Justice de Moraes sought to weaponize Twitter’s content moderation policies against supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, similar to what happened with former President Donald Trump and conservative voices in the United States. The origin of the order to censor Brazilians’ posts was revealed in the internal Twitter files, but Justice de Moraes and the relevant courts declined to respond to the report.
This aggressive censorship has drawn criticism from Elon Musk, who released the “Twitter Files” to Shellenberger. Musk believes that Brazil’s actions violate both the law and the will of the Brazilian people. Journalist Paulo Figueiredo, who was censored by the court order, expressed gratitude towards Musk for his stance against censorship. Musk, who describes himself as a free speech absolutist, aims to create a platform where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner.
In response to Brazil’s Supreme Court order, Musk posted an image on X, formerly Twitter, with the message “For the people of Earth,” showing an X comprising the words “FREE SPEECH.” This gesture further emphasizes his commitment to protecting free speech and challenging censorship.
Elon Musk’s decision to defy Brazil’s Supreme Court order has garnered attention and support from those who believe in the importance of free speech. By taking a stand against censorship, Musk has demonstrated his dedication to principles that go beyond profit. As this story continues to unfold, it raises important questions about the balance between freedom of expression and governmental control over social media platforms.
