(Brasilia) Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, engaged in a merciless battle against Elon Musk, has ordered the transfer to the state of more than three million dollars blocked in the accounts of the American billionaire’s companies, the court announced Friday.
Mr. de Moraes “decided on the transfer [à l’État] of 18.35 million reais [3,28 millions US, 4,5 millions CAN] blocked” on the accounts in Brazil of X and the satellite company Starlink, the court said in a note, specifying that the rendering dated from Wednesday.
This sanction is imposed on Elon Musk’s companies as fines not paid by X, a social network blocked in the country by order of the same judge from Moraes since August 30.
Alexandre de Moraes accuses X of not having suspended accounts accused of spreading false information and of having refused to appoint a legal representative in Brazil.
In addition to closing the platform, the judge froze the assets in the country of X and Starlink, a satellite internet provider, in order to guarantee the payment of the fines imposed on X.
Some 22 million people used the social network in Brazil, the largest market in Latin America.
X’s suspension has fueled debates over freedom of expression and sparked protests across the country, including by former President Jair Bolsonaro, who called de Moraes a “dictator.”
Meeting on Friday in Maceio, in the northeast of Brazil, the G20 ministers for the digital economy discussed in particular the acceleration of the spread of fake news and called on the players in the sector.
“We stress the need for transparency and accountability of digital platforms in accordance with appropriate policies and applicable legal frameworks,” they said in a text.