BRASILIA: A Brazilian judge has initiated an investigation into Elon Musk for obstruction of justice, following the tech mogul’s declaration that he would defy a court order to remove certain accounts accused of disseminating disinformation.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, in a ruling on Sunday, announced the probe aimed at assessing whether Musk, who holds ownership of the platform in question, was involved in obstruction, criminal organization, and incitement.
De Moraes emphasized the seriousness of Musk’s actions, citing them as a blatant disregard for Brazilian sovereignty and judicial authority. He ordered the platform to refrain from disregarding court orders, including the reactivation of any account previously blocked by the Supreme Court.
De Moraes warned that the platform would incur fines of 100,000 reais ($19,770) per day for each reinstated account in defiance of the court order, asserting that social networks must adhere to legal standards.
His decision was prompted by Musk’s criticism of the judge on the platform, following an announcement of the court order to block certain accounts. The specifics of the blocked accounts and the timing of the court order remain unclear.
Musk’s comments on the platform expressed strong opposition to the judge’s actions, accusing him of betraying Brazil’s constitution and its people. Despite potential financial losses for the platform in Brazil, Musk emphasized the importance of principles over profit, stating readiness to comply with de Moraes’s demands while highlighting potential violations of Brazilian law.
Brazil’s Solicitor General Jorge Messias, a member of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s leftist government, voiced support for De Moraes, denouncing the influence of foreign billionaires on social networks and their potential to undermine the rule of law.
De Moraes, known as a controversial figure in Brazil’s high court, stands firm in his efforts to uphold judicial integrity in Latin America’s largest nation.
