In a statement published on Saturday, the Ombudsman confirmed that he had launched a trial against Musk on Friday in the federal court in Brasilia, the country's capital.
The justification for the lawsuit against the South African entrepreneur specified that Musk had committed “actions resulting in moral and social damage to Brazilian democracy.”
In the lawsuit, Brazil's Ombudsman demanded compensation from Musk in the amount of 1 billion reais, i.e. the equivalent of EUR 179 million.
On April 8, the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil (STF) ordered the launch of an investigation against Musk for ignoring the rulings of the country's courts and online publications in which he called on the Brazilian authorities to dismiss the head of the court, Alexandre de Moraes. The STF considered these entries to be threats.
Musk, considered by Forbes magazine to be the second richest man in the world, claims that the practice ordered by the Brazilian justice system is “censorship” that his company does not intend to use. He also rejected the arguments of Brazil's judicial authorities that freedom of speech on the Internet threatens democracy.
According to the decisions of the STF and the Higher Electoral Court of Brazil (TSE), if Musk fails to comply with the order to block specific users of the X network, a fine of PLN 100,000 will be imposed on the billionaire. Brazilian reals, i.e. the equivalent of 17.9 thousand euros, for each account operating contrary to the decision of the Brazilian judiciary.
Marcin Zatyka (PAP)
