The social media platform formerly known as Twitter has more than 22 million users in Brazil.
Brasília:
Brazil’s Supreme Court announced on Friday that a judge has ordered the transfer of approximately $3 million from Elon Musk’s companies to cover fines imposed on his social network X, which has been suspended in the country.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes made the decision to shut down X in Brazil last month after Musk refused to take down numerous right-wing accounts and neglected to appoint a new legal representative in compliance with the court’s instructions.
A statement issued by the court confirmed that Moraes had instructed the transfer of 18.35 million reais ($3.28 million) from the blocked accounts of X and Starlink, both entities owned by Musk.
Moraes and the South African-born billionaire have had several confrontations, with Moraes focusing on combatting misinformation.
Assets belonging to X and Starlink have been frozen by Moraes, with Starlink operating in Brazil since 2022, particularly in remote Amazon communities, to ensure payment of fines levied on X for its non-compliance with court directives.
The social media platform previously known as Twitter boasts a user base of over 22 million in Brazil.
Moraes also warned that individuals using “technological workarounds” like virtual private networks (VPNs) to access the blocked site could face fines of up to $9,000.
These actions by Moraes have sparked discussions on freedom of speech and the boundaries of social media platforms, both domestically and internationally.
The ban received praise from leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, while his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro criticized Moraes, labeling him a “dictator.”
(This article is based on a syndicated feed and has not been altered by NDTV staff.)
