Brazil blocks X
Brazil's Supreme Court has imposed a nationwide block on the online social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The platform has refused to block accounts that spread conspiracy theories and fake news and to pay outstanding fines and appoint a legal representative in the country. Its owner Elon Musk says the court's orders hinder freedom of expression. Commentators praise the courage of the Brazilian judiciary.
No right to aggression
The Frankfurter Rundschau congratulates Alexandre De Moraes:
“As a justice of Brazil's Supreme Court, he is showing Elon Musk that the rule of law also applies in social networks. Freedom of expression is not to be confused with the right to freely disseminate disinformation and aggression. The pugnacious Supreme Court justice is thus taking the path of maximum resistance, as Musk and his virtual and real armies have immediately drawn their verbal knives. Incidentally, Brazil is not alone in its collision course with Musk. The EU is accusing him and his company of violating its legal provisions. Australia, England, India and Turkey have also ordered that certain X profiles and posts be deleted.”
Musk wants to be above the law
Visão sees the legal dispute as part of a far-right ideological battle:
“Elon Musk is the figurehead of a far-right ideology that wants to restore the absolutism of the 17th century under the guise of progress: absolute power in one hand which can do whatever it wants with it. ... In recent years, an anti-state discourse which sees the law as a corset, taxes as a burden and neighbours as enemies has become mainstream. ... All the men from the cabinet of horrors represent it, it's worth taking another look: Trump, Putin, Netanyahu, Modi, Orbán, Milei, King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the great Musk.”