Brazilian Judge Seizes $3 Million from Elon Musk’s Companies to Settle X Network Fines
Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes (R) has repeatedly clashed with tech tycoon Elon Musk (L) after making it his mission to crack down on disinformation.
Brazil’s Supreme Court announced on Friday that a judge has authorised the transfer of approximately $3 million from Elon Musk’s enterprises to cover fines owed by his social media platform X, which has been suspended in the nation.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes issued a shutdown order for X in Brazil last month after Musk declined to remove numerous right-wing accounts and failed to appoint a new legal representative as required by court directives.
In a concise statement, the court specified that Moraes had “directed the transfer of 18.35 million reais ($3.28 million) from accounts belonging to X and the satellite internet company Starlink,” both owned by Musk, into state coffers.
Moraes, known for his strict stance against misinformation, has clashed multiple times with the billionaire entrepreneur, further freezing assets of X and Starlink. Starlink, operational in Brazil since 2022, particularly serves remote Amazon communities.
Formerly recognised as Twitter, X boasts over 22 million users in Brazil, amplifying debates on freedom of expression and social network regulations nationally and internationally.
Moraes additionally decreed penalties of up to $9,000 for users employing “technological workarounds,” such as virtual private networks (VPNs), to access the restricted platform.
The judicial actions have sparked polarised reactions: leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva supported the ban, while right-wing predecessor Jair Bolsonaro criticised Moraes, labelling him a “dictator.”
