"Brazilian President Lula Criticizes Elon Musk's 'Far Right' Ideology Following X Ban"

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has criticized billionaire Elon Musk, stating that the world is not obligated to tolerate Musk’s “far-right anything goes” agenda due to his wealth. Lula da Silva’s remarks came in an interview with CNN Brasil, published on Monday, following the suspension of Musk’s social media platform X in Brazil.

The Brazilian justice system’s decision to block X, which has a significant user base in the country, reflects Lula da Silva’s ongoing conflict with Musk over issues of free speech and misinformation. The suspension was enacted after Musk failed to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, and it follows a broader investigation into online misinformation and hate speech.

The Supreme Court’s order to block X was part of a wider effort to address the spread of harmful content on the platform, including accounts linked to former President Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing party and other figures accused of undermining Brazilian democracy. The court had previously mandated the removal of several X accounts associated with these concerns.

Musk, who describes himself as a “free speech absolutist,” has argued that the court’s actions represent censorship, a view that has found support among some right-wing figures in Brazil. In response, Musk shared a link on X promoting a demonstration against judicial overreach and in defense of free speech.

Brazil is a crucial market for X, with approximately 40 million users, or about one-fifth of the population, accessing the platform monthly. The platform has faced significant challenges since Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded it as X, including a decline in advertisers and escalating disputes with international regulators.