Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has openly criticized billionaire Elon Musk, stating that the world should not have to tolerate Musk’s “far-right anything goes” ideology simply because of his vast wealth. Lula’s remarks were made during an interview with CNN Brasil, published on Monday, shortly after Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the suspension of Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) across the country.
“The Brazilian justice system may have given an important signal that the world is not obliged to put up with Musk’s extreme right-wing anything goes just because he is rich,” Lula da Silva asserted, signaling his disapproval of Musk’s influence on global discourse.
This latest criticism is part of an ongoing conflict between Lula da Silva and Musk, primarily revolving around issues of free speech, far-right accounts, and the spread of misinformation in Brazil. Over the weekend, many Brazilians, including the president, bid farewell to X, sharing links to alternative social media platforms as the service became inaccessible nationwide.
Brazil represents a significant market for X, with approximately 40 million Brazilians, or around one-fifth of the population, accessing the platform monthly, according to market research group Emarketer. However, the platform’s accessibility was halted after Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered its suspension, following Musk’s refusal to appoint a legal representative in the country.
The Supreme Court’s decision is part of a broader investigation into the spread of misinformation and hate speech online, which has targeted individuals and accounts accused of undermining Brazil’s democracy. Previous actions by the court have led to the shutdown of X accounts linked to lawmakers from former President Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing party and other activists.
Musk, who identifies as a “free speech absolutist,” has repeatedly condemned the court’s actions as censorship. His stance has found support among Brazil’s political right. On Tuesday, Musk further involved himself in Brazilian politics by sharing a link on X to an upcoming demonstration, described as a march for “freedom, protesting judicial overreach and defending free speech.”
The feud between Lula da Silva and Musk underscores the broader global debate over the balance between free speech and the regulation of online platforms, particularly those perceived as amplifying extremist viewpoints. As tensions continue to rise, Brazil’s approach may serve as a pivotal example of how governments can challenge the influence of tech billionaires in shaping public discourse.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
