X Corp, formerly known as Twitter, revealed on Saturday that it has been compelled by court rulings to block several prominent accounts in Brazil, but is unable to disclose further details about the orders. The company, owned by Elon Musk, expressed concerns that these rulings could result in significant revenue loss and even the closure of its Brazilian offices, vowing to contest them through legal channels.
Amidst this legal tussle, X Corp emphasized its lack of clarity regarding the reasons behind the blocking orders and its inability to provide specifics about the affected accounts. Moreover, the company disclosed that it faces daily fines if it fails to comply with the court's directives. Musk highlighted the severity of the situation, noting that the judge overseeing the case has imposed substantial fines, threatened to detain employees, and even discussed cutting off access to X Corp's services in Brazil.
The situation underscores broader concerns over free speech and judicial intervention in online platforms in Brazil. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, in particular, has been linked to a crackdown on free expression on social media platforms. Last year, Moraes initiated an investigation into executives at messaging platform Telegram and Google, alleging their involvement in a campaign criticizing proposed internet regulation legislation. The bill, which sought to hold internet companies accountable for identifying and reporting illegal content, could impose hefty fines for non-compliance, shifting the responsibility away from the courts.