In Brazil, the standoff between Elon Musk and judge Alexandre de Moraes, which began last weekend, reopens the debate on the question of the regulation of social networks. The boss of X is accused by the magistrate of “criminal exploitation” of the social network.
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From our correspondent in Rio de Janeiro,
It all started when judge Alexandre de Moraes requested the suspension of profiles on the social network X. Profiles of supporters of the former president Jair Bolsonarosuspected of spreading false information, encouraging hate speech, and being linked to attempted coup d’état from January 8, 2023.
Elon Musk retaliated by threatening to reactivate all suspended accounts. He says he is ready to close X’s offices in Brazil if he had to pay the fine of 18,300 euros per reactivated profile.
The open conflict between the American billionaire and the Supreme Court judge has taken another turn sinceAlexander of Moraes decided to include Elon Musk in the investigation into digital militias. A procedure targeting groups that have threatened democracy since 2021. The boss of X reacted with a series of attacks on his social network, going so far as to demand the dismissal of the magistrate.
How did @Alexander de Moraes become the dictator of Brazil? He has Lula on a leash 😂
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 9, 2024
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Polarized Brazilian society
Behind this confrontation hovers the shadow of Jair Bolsonaro. It is a conflict that revives the polarization of Brazilian society. Elon Musk and Jair Bolsonaro support each other, adopt provocative attitudes and a common rhetoric: that of defending freedom of expression in the face of censorship.
In front of the European Parliament this Wednesday, April 10, far-right Brazilian deputies denounced the affair as a violation of freedom of expression and a political persecution of the Bolsonarist camp.
The boss of X compared Alexandre de Moraes to a “ dictator who keeps Lula on a leash “. In response to the attacks, the Supreme Court judge emphasized that “ freedom of expression is not a freedom of aggression, misogyny or the defense of tyranny “.
This affair puts debates on the regulation of social networks. A bill on the subject had been blocked in the Chamber of Deputies for a year. A text contaminated by “ political-ideological stories » on censorship and limitation of freedom of expression, according to the President of the House, Arthur Lira. In recent days, he said he wanted to create a new working group to discuss how to combat fake news. A regulation that appears more urgent than ever.
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