Brazil’s Supreme Court judge sets a deadline for social media platform X to explain alleged non-compliance with previous rulings – JURIST

Alexandre de Moraes, a judge of Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF), granted social media platform X (formerly Twitter) a five-day deadline to explain its alleged failure to fully comply with previous court orders issued on Monday. This deadline ends on Friday.

The move comes amid an ongoing investigation into what Brazilian authorities have dubbed ‘milícias digitalais’ (digital militias). These groups are suspected of spreading disinformation and inciting criminal activities during the presidency of far-right former leader Jair Bolsonaro. As part of this investigation, certain accounts were blocked, with Moraes overseeing the process.

Among the profiles involved in this controversy are those of prominent bloggers linked to the Bolsonaro administration, including Allan dos Santos and Oswaldo Eustáquio, Senator Marcos do Val (Podemos-ES) and commentators Paulo Figueiredo Filho and Rodrigo Constantino. According to findings by federal investigators, those under investigation have used “digital militias” operating beyond Brazil’s borders to evade compliance with court orders. Researchers argue that this behavior worsens the polarization of discourse by promoting extremist views.

In response to these allegations, X representatives in Brazil stated that the live broadcast feature was not enabled for accounts and profiles subject to court-ordered blocks or suspensions. Additionally, they announced that 161 bills were blocked by court order, while 65 were blocked by order of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

Elon Musk, executive director of social media platform X, becomes entangled in the investigation. Accusations of “criminal and fraudulent manipulation” and obstruction of justice have been leveled against Musk, leading Brazilian authorities to include him in their investigation. Musk is accused of orchestrating a public campaign of disinformation and ignoring court directives to block specific accounts on his platform.