Elon Musk Intensifies Online Attacks on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Legal Battle

Elon Musk, the influential leader behind Tesla, SpaceX, and X Corp., has intensified his online criticisms towards Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes. This comes amidst a growing political and legal dispute between the tech mogul and his ventures, and Brazil's highest court.

Legal representative appointment ultimatum

On Thursday, a notable turn of events occurred when De Moraes' court mandated Musk and X Corp. to appoint a legal representative for the social media company, previously known as Twitter, in Brazil within 24 hours. Failure to comply would result in "penalty of suspension of activities" for X in Brazil.

Impact of suspension on social network's business

The potential suspension of X in Brazil could have dire consequences for the already struggling social network. Brazil boasts a substantial population of over 171 million active social media users, as reported by market research firm Oosga. This significant user base represents a crucial market for X.

Legal compliance with Brazilian laws

As Brazil prepares for its October municipal elections, social networks operating in the country are legally obligated to employ personnel who can receive and address government takedown notices regarding political misinformation. However, X recently announced the removal of all its employees from Brazil, creating a compliance gap with local laws.

Musk's provocative actions on social media

In a provocative move, Musk shared a manipulated image on social media, depicting Justice de Moraes behind bars. The post included the ominous message, "One day, @Alexandre, this picture of you in prison will be real. Mark my words," directed at de Moraes and Musk's 195.8 million followers on X.

Asset freezing by the Brazilian Supreme Court

In response to the ongoing legal wrangling, reports from G1 Globo in Brazil revealed that Justice de Moraes ordered "the freezing of all financial assets" belonging to Musk's companies in Brazil. This encompasses SpaceX-owned Starlink, with the purpose of "guaranteeing the payment of fines" imposed by the court on X.

Starlink's reaction to the court's order

Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX and currently approved for commercial operations in 105 countries, including Brazil, responded to the court's order. In a post late Wednesday, the company expressed its discontent, labeling the order as "an unfounded determination" and claiming it was issued in secret, devoid of due legal process as guaranteed by the Constitution of Brazil.

Escalating rhetoric and political implications

The conflict has taken on a political dimension as Musk openly criticized Justice de Moraes, branding him "an outright criminal masquerading as a judge." He referred to de Moraes as a "dictator of Brazil" and disparaged President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as his "lapdog." Musk's language reflects the deepening political confrontations surrounding this legal battle.

Investigations into Musk and X Corp.

Furthermore, de Moraes initiated an investigation into Musk and X Corp over their alleged obstruction of justice earlier this year, further complicating the situation. The court's probes into Musk and X are part of a broader inquiry into digital militias in Brazil, which are accused of disseminating misinformation online to undermine the country's democratic institutions.

International scrutiny and information requests

The U.S. House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee has also taken a keen interest in the Brazilian court's orders concerning X and has subpoenaed the company to furnish details on the court's directives related to content moderation. The committee's concerns revolve around issues of censorship, highlighting the international implications of this legal dispute.