Legal battles in Australia and Brazil

Criticized by the Australian government, adored by supporters of former Brazilian president Bolsonaro, the social network X and the positions of its owner, Elon Musk, are in the sights of justice in Brazil and Australia.

In Australia, justice requires Elon Musk to remove the videos broadcast on X (formerly Twitter) of the attack ona bishop of an Assyrian Orthodox church. If he refuses, he faces a fine of $500,000. The government is stepping up and considering toughening its law on social networks.

In Brazil, the boss of He thus becomes even more the darling of the Brazilian extreme right. The Supreme Court responds and orders the opening of an investigation against Elon Musk, in particular, for “incitement to crime”.

Australia: Elon Musk mocks court injunction

In Australia, this skirmish with X (formerly Twitter) is linked to the recent knife attacks which devastated the city of Sydney and more precisely of the second attack. This targeted a bishop of an Assyrian Orthodox church, who is used to broadcasting his sermons live on the Internet. His attack was also seen live by thousands of people. These are the images that the Australian government asked X to remove from its platform, which the social network refused to do, in the name of freedom of expression.

Elon Musk himself mocked the online safety commissioner, who issued the injunction, as a censorship commissioner. In the meantime, justice has ruled against X and Elon Musk. They have two days to prepare their appeal, after which they risk a fine of $500,000 per day, as long as the offending video is not removed from the platform.

“Fight this arrogant billionaire who thinks he is above the law”

This refusal to comply provoked very strong reactions in Australia. VSThis denunciation crosses almost all political currents. “We will do what is necessary to fight this arrogant billionaire who believes himself to be above the law, but also above the most basic decency. A social network must also have social responsibility. Mr. Musk does not demonstrate the slightest”reacted the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who was particularly acerbic.

This affair could go well beyond just the The government had already tried to pass this law in 2023, but it had to give up because it did not receive the support of the opposition. The latter, in light of the behavior of X and Elon Musk, changed its mind and announced that it would support the majority if such a text were presented to it.

Brazil: Elon Musk, hero of the Brazilian far right

This is not new, Elon Musk has already been received with all honors by Jair Bolsonaro then president, and his action at the head of But by treating Alexandre de Moraes as “dictator” At the beginning of April, Elon Musk became essential for the local extreme right. It must be said that this Supreme Court judge, at the forefront in the fight against disinformation, is responsible for numerous investigations targeting Jair Bolsonaro, including the one examining his participation in an attempted coup d’état.

This offensive can therefore only please the ex-president. During the demonstration he organized this Sunday, April 21, Musk’s portrait is everywhere. At the heart of the participants’ speeches, he even received a standing ovation at the request of Bolsonaro. “He is the man who had the courage to show, by providing some evidence, where our democracy is heading. It shows us the freedoms we have already lost. I now ask for a round of applause for Elon Musk !”did he declare. Ineligible, entangled in business, the ex-president is trying to show his muscles. However, this episode allows him to bring together his activists, today much more dispersed than during his mandate.

X has a very strong influence in Brazil

These attacks by Elon Musk against Alexandre de Moraes are based on revelations, since denied, by an American journalist. In the end, whatever the truth, it is above all a question of imposing one’s rhythm on the media agenda and thus attempting to normalize radical theses. X has a very strong influence in Brazil, with 40 million Brazilians accessing it at least once a month. These provocations have thus relaunched a debate on absolute freedom of expression, which benefits the Bolsonaro camp, which is very adept at spreading false information.

The Supreme Court did not remain without reaction and notably ordered the opening of an investigation against Elon Musk for “incitement to crime” And “obstructing the exercise of justice”. None of this, however, has calmed tensions. This has even given some encouragement to a section of Congress, which is seeking to limit the powers of the Supreme Court.