Elon Musk's X shuts down Brazil operations citing arrest ‘threat’ from top judge

Despite closing its physical operations in Brazil, X confirmed that its service would remain accessible to Brazilian users.

Elon Musk-owned social media giant X on Saturday announced that it is shutting down its operations in Brazil with immediate effect in response to what the company described as a "threat" from Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of Brazil's Supreme Court.

Elon Musk's company said that the censorship order was passed without public disclosure and outside the bounds of due process.(AFP)

According to a statement released by X, Moraes issued a secret order threatening the arrest of the company’s legal representative in Brazil if X did not comply with his censorship directives. The company claims that this order was made without public disclosure and outside the bounds of due process.

“Last night, Alexandre de Moraes threatened our legal representative in Brazil with arrest if we do not comply with his censorship orders. He did so in a secret order, which we share here to expose his actions,” X said.

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The company expressed frustration over its numerous appeals to Brazil's Supreme Court, which it says have gone unheard, leaving its staff vulnerable to legal threats.