Posted on 08/30/2024 6:21:57 AM PDT by george76
Faced with the lack of a legal representative of the social network X in Brazil, the Minister of the Supreme Court (STF) Alexandre Moraes blocked accounts of Starlink Holding, which also belongs to the billionaire Elon Musk's — which provoked a new reaction on the part of the entrepreneur (read further below)
Last week, Moraes considered the existence of a de facto“economic group ” under Musk's command and on August 18, ordered block all financial values of this group in Brazil, to ensure the payment of fines imposed by the Brazilian Justice against network X.
According to aides from the cabinet of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the other company under Elon Musk in the country — besides X — is precisely Starlink, which it operates in Brazil in the sale of satellite internet services, mainly in the North.
In a post on X, Starlink called Moraes' decisions against X "unconstitutional" and claimed it intends to appeal in court.
"This order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be liable for the unconstitutionally charged — fines — against X. It was issued in secret and without giving Starlink any of the due legal processes guaranteed by the Constitution of Brazil. We intend to address the matter legally" says the text
...
All Starlink leaders in Brazil have already been notified and subpoenaed to also answer for the values owed to the Brazilian Justice by the X.
After the accounts were blocked, the billionaire again criticizing Alexandre de Moraes — who, on Wednesday (28), compared with movie villains (see video above).
In a publication in X, on Thursday (29), Musk called the minister a "dictator" and hinted that the president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (EN) would collude with him.
"The tyrant Alexandre [de Moraes] is the dictator of Brazil. Lula is his puppy" Musk wrote in a free translation.
Businessman Elon Musk it decided, as announced on the 17th, to close X's office in Brazil.
The reason is the fact that the company does not agree with the fines imposed by the STF nor with the determination of withdrawal of content published by users on the social network that affront the Democratic State of Law and Brazilian legislation.
Since then, Minister Alexandre de Moraes began to request that the entrepreneur establish a legal representative to officially respond to the acts of the platform.
...
Intimacy in post On Wednesday (28), Moraes gave 24 hours for the social network to have a legal representative in the country, again under penalty of suspension of service.
The decision was made public overnight in a post on the STF's X profile in response to the company's post made in August 17 on the closing of the office. On that occasion, in addition to announcing the closing of the office and the withdrawal of your representative from the country, the platform said that the network could continue to be used in the country.
"We are deeply saddened to have been forced to make this decision. The responsibility lies exclusively with Alexandre de Moraes. Their actions are incompatible with a democratic government. The Brazilian people have a choice to make — democracy or Alexandre de Moraes" the company said.
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X published an order from the minister, saying that he threatened to fine and arrest the then responsible for the X in Brazil, Rachel de Oliveira Villa Nova Conceicao.
The document attributed to Moraes included an excerpt that read: "Daily fine of R$ 20,000.00 (twenty thousand reais) to the company's administrator, RACHEL DE OLIVEIRA VILLA NOVA CONCEPTION, CUMULATIVE TO THAT IMPOSED ON THE COMPANY, as well as DECREE OF ARREST for disobedience to the judicial determination".
"Although our numerous appeals to the Federal Supreme Court have not been heard, the Brazilian public has not been informed about these orders, and our Brazilian team has no responsibility or control over blocking content on our platform, Moraes has chosen to threaten our team in Brazil rather than respecting the law or due process of law" X said. "As a result, to protect the safety of our staff, we have made the decision to close our operations in Brazil, effective immediately. Service X is still available to the population of Brazil."
According to X, the copy of Moraes' alleged warrant was published to "expose his actions".
The STF responded to this post on Wednesday night, with the requirement that the social network again appoint a representative in the country. In the repost, the Supreme's profile also marked Musk's profile.
Musk has “f**k Brazil money” and if he wanted to could bury Brazil’s current dictator government under relentless press attacks.
Old saying, “never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel.”
Musk doesn’t own either X or Starlink. He has controlling interest in both. But both have plenty of other owners. I don’t think he even has a majority of the stock in Starlink.
Brazil’s current dictator is trying some Blackmail
“Brazil’s current dictator is trying some Blackmail”
Musk should just shut down all services to Brazil and let the people take the issue into their own hands. There are a lot of businesses that use and rely on these services. The immediate impact on their economy would be a wake up call.
Raise the pot and call his bluff.
“He has controlling interest in both.”
Which serves the same as ownership.
The tyrant Alexandre de Moraes is the dictator of Brazil. Lula is his puppy.. ~Musk
Space X which operates Star Link is a private company. Musk does indeed own the company excepting equity sharing to his employees.
This is a side channel deep state attempt to get control of Musk. It’s not enough of course but it does signal willingness to escalate.
Watch to see if SpaceX announces a “technical review” or somesuch and says it can’t perform any launches.
Mebbe Brazil needs to be treated like Iran.
“Musk should just shut down all services to Brazil ”
Absolutely, and easy enough done.
The US needs to impose sanctions against Brazil. Need to make it cost them far more than any "fines" they could ever impose.
The US needs to force other countries to leave their hands off of American companies and the *REQUIREMENT* to allow freedom of speech.
“So you want to fine me? How about I just FINE YOU with a flip of my switch”...
Alexandre de Moraes is the dictator of Brazil. Lula is his puppy...and both are slaves to Russia and China
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