Brazilian Supreme Court investigates Elon Musk following social media spat

A  Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into tech tycoon Elon Musk in response to a barrage of harsh criticism directed at the magistrate. An investigation into Musk's behavior has been mandated by Judge Alexandre de Moraes after the businessman criticized the court and charged him with censorship for removing social media profiles that he believed to be spreading false information.

Judge Moraes accused Musk, the platform X owner, of "criminal instrumentalization" of the site, according to a ruling seen by the media. The judge delivered a severe warning, requiring that X abide by court instructions, including not reactivating any accounts that the Supreme Court had previously prohibited. Moraes threatened to charge Musk up to $20,000 for each reactivated account, which may result in serious financial consequences for the billionaire.

On X, the website that Musk purchased in 2022 and was once known as Twitter, Musk started criticizing Judge Moraes. Starting on Saturday night, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla unleashed a barrage of postings criticizing the judge, accusing him of betraying the constitution and demanding his resignation or impeachment.

Musk warned of possible income loss in Brazil, which would result in the closing of their office, as Moraes threatened to apply heavy penalties and possibly limit access to the platform. This was a dangerous turn in the already growing confrontation. Musk highlighted the significance of ideals over profit, even in light of the financial ramifications.

One of the 11 members of Brazil's highest court, Judge Moraes is a divisive figure who also serves as the head of the Superior Electoral Tribunal. He has taken the lead in Brazil's fight against misinformation, frequently directing the suspension of social media accounts, especially those belonging to Jair Bolsonaro's followers.

Moraes is accused by some, including Musk, of leading the nation's attack on free expression. Many people have criticized the judge's conduct, particularly because he spearheaded the push to declare Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office in 2023 because he disseminated misleading information about Brazil's election system.

Following Musk's assaults, Brazil's Attorney General Jorge Messias denounced the influence of foreign-based billionaires who flout the law and pose a threat to the state and demanded immediate control of social media. Still, he did not specifically address Musk by name in his remarks on X. 

Source: AFP