Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, revealed that the US House of Representatives has made an inquiry regarding the platform’s activities in Brazil that may have violated Brazilian laws. Musk’s announcement, made on X, stated, “X just received an inquiry from the US House of Representatives regarding actions taken in Brazil that were in violation of Brazilian law. There were hundreds, if not thousands. This is getting spicy.”
This statement came after a Brazilian judge initiated an investigation against Musk for allegedly obstructing justice. This investigation stemmed from Musk’s declaration that he would defy a court order to remove X accounts accused of spreading disinformation. Brazil Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes announced the probe, which aims to determine whether Musk was involved in obstruction, criminal organization, and incitement.
In response to Moraes’s decision, Musk criticized the judge on X, accusing him of betraying the constitution and people of Brazil. He called for Moraes’s resignation or impeachment, expressing his dissatisfaction with the court’s actions. Additionally, Musk stated that X would likely lose revenue and may have to shut down in Brazil, emphasizing that principles are more important than profit.
Elon Musk says X received inquiry from US House of Representatives on actions in Brazil
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Support for Moraes’s actions came from Brazil’s Solicitor General Jorge Messias, who emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law. Moraes has been lauded for his efforts to combat misinformation and hate speech online, although his actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.
Notably, Moraes has been leading investigations into former President Jair Bolsonaro since 2023, including allegations of planning a military coup and spreading false information about the electoral system. Musk’s association with Bolsonaro, including plans to install Starlink satellites over the Amazon rainforest, has drawn attention in this context.