Screenshot / YouTube, Lex Fridman ; Screenshot / YouTube, FRANCE 24, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has targeted Elon Musk in an ongoing investigation regarding the spread of fake news. The justice has also initiated a separate investigation against the U.S. business executive, accusing him of obstructing justice.

Musk has blasted the justice on X over the past few days, nicknaming him the “dictator of Brazil.”

The Los Angeles Times reports that Justice Alexandre De Moraes pointed out on Saturday that Musk commenced a public “disinformation campaign” concerning the top court’s actions. 

De Moraes emphasized that Musk persisted in this campaign the following day, notably with remarks indicating that his social media company X would no longer adhere to the court’s orders to block specific accounts.

Journalist Michael Shellenberger detailed the unfolding story in a lengthy post on X which sparked this legal battle gaining traction online. His post headlined: Elon Musk Is All That Stands In The Way Of Totalitarianism.

“De Moraes said he would fine X twenty thousand dollars per day for every banned person Musk allows to speak,” Shellenberger outlined.

“De Moraes has taken Brazil one step closer to being a dictatorship,” he continued. “What’s more, the events of the last few weeks make clear that Elon Musk is the only thing standing in the way of global totalitarianism. Without free speech, there can be no democracy.”

“If X goes down, we must continue to fight,” Shellenberger added.

Musk mocked De Moraes in a quoted post on X, writing, “I say, ‘Tell me, Alexandre, is the disinformation in the room with us now?’”

Musk has also commented on De Moraes’ ongoing investigation over the past few days. Seemingly mocking the justice over his “draconian demands.”

“Coming shortly, X will publish everything demanded by @Alexandre and how those requests violate Brazilian law,” Musk wrote on Sunday. “This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached.”

X’s Global Government Affairs account wrote on Saturday that it has been forced by court decisions to block certain popular accounts in Brazil. The post also offered a translation for Brazilian users.

Musk quoted that post with “Why are you doing this @alexandre?”

Shellenberger reported on April 3 that “Brazil is engaged in a sweeping crackdown on free speech led by a Supreme Court justice named Alexandre de Moraes.” Musk highlighted his reporting on Saturday, writing “This aggressive censorship appears to violate the law & will of the people of Brazil.”

Shellenberger would then report on the story again on Sunday from Brazil, notably warning, “At any moment, Brazil’s Supreme Court could shut off all access to X/Twitter for the people of Brazil.” 

“This is all accurate,” Musk said in a quoted post.

Musk has chimed in to blast De Moraes in various other posts, saying in one instance that the justice “should be on trial for his crimes.”

He also challenged De Moraes to a debate in another post.

Not The Bee published an article on Monday talking about a report that exposed Brazil’s “aggressive censorship,” Musk’s refusal to comply, and “what it means for the world.”

Musk quoted that post too, saying “Accurate.”

Brazilian authorities will investigate Musk for allegedly intentionally using X as part of their probe into a network of individuals known as digital militias, the LA Times reports. 

These groups purportedly disseminate defamatory fake news and threats against Brazilian Supreme Court justices. 

The decision text outlines that the investigation will specifically focus on determining whether Musk obstructed justice, engaged in criminal organization, and incited illegal activities.

“The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil,” De Moraes wrote Sunday.