Chamber debates accusations of alleged censorship of the Judiciary of X

The Foreign Relations Committee of the Chamber of Deputies debates this 3rd (April 16, 2024) accusations of alleged censorship by the Brazilian Judiciary of X (formerly Twitter), published by Twitter Files Brazil, which are files from within Twitter that were released to journalists by businessman and owner of the social network, Elon Musk.

The journalist and editor of Twitter Files Brazil, Michael Shellenbergerand the writer, lawyer specializing in United States constitutional law and journalist, Glenn Greenwaldwill be present at the debate.

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TWITTER FILES BRAZIL

On Wednesday (April 3), North American journalist Michael Shellenberger published an exchange of emails between employees in the legal sector of X in Brazil between 2020 and 2022 talking about requests and court orders received regarding content from its users.

The messages would show requests from various instances of the Brazilian Judiciary requesting personal data from users who used hashtags about the electoral process and content moderation.

Shellenberger specifically criticized STF minister Alexandre de Moraes, criticizing him for “leading a case of widespread repression of freedom of expression in Brazil”. According to him, Moraes’ decisions as president of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) “threaten democracy in Brazil” when asking for interventions in publications by members of the National Congress and personal account data, which violates the platform’s guidelines. The records of the aforementioned processes are confidential.

The case was named Twitter Files Brazil in reference to the Twitter Files originally published in 2022, after Musk bought X, in October of that year.

At the time, Musk delivered material to journalists that indicated how the social network, in the 2020 US elections, collaborated with US authorities to block users and suppress content about candidate Joe Biden’s son, who was elected president.

The files published by journalists include email exchanges that reveal, to some extent, how Twitter reacted to requests from governments to intervene in the policy of publishing and removing content. In some cases, the social network ended up giving in.

In the Brazilian case, Musk was not indicated as the source who provided the material, however, the businessman criticized Moraes for a few days.

MUSK X MORAES

Moraes determined on Sunday (April 7) the inclusion of the owner of X as being investigated in the digital militias inquiry, filed in July 2021, which investigates groups for conduct against democracy.

The minister also opened a new investigation to investigate Elon Musk’s conduct. The magistrate wants the crime of obstruction of justice to be investigated, “including criminal organization and incitement to crime”.

On Saturday (Apr 6), Elon Musk asked why minister Alexandre de Moraes “No Brazil demands so much censorship”. The businessman responded to a publication by the minister in X on January 11th.

Musk’s comment came following accusations made by North American journalist Michael Shellenberger on Wednesday (April 3). According to Shellenberger, the minister has “led a case of widespread repression of freedom of expression in Brazil”.

The critical comments escalated the tone and Musk said that he is thinking about closing Twitter in Brazil and that he will publicize Moraes’ demands that violate laws. He also called the minister “tyrant”, “totalitarian” e “draconiano”saying he should “resign or be impeached”.

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