In response to the exposure by ‘Twitter Files Brazil’ of Twitter’s internal communications prior to Mr. Musk’s 2022 takeover, X Corp. owner Elon Musk announced on Saturday evening that the company would be lifting all restrictions on Brazilian accounts targeted by an order from the nation’s Supreme Court. Despite facing severe consequences such as fines, threats of employee arrests, and potential closure of their office in Brazil, Mr. Musk emphasized that principles matter more than profit.
The decision to lift restrictions was prompted by investigative journalist Michael Shellenberger’s report on ‘TWITTER FILES BRAZIL,’ which revealed Brazil’s crackdown on free speech led by a Supreme Court justice. The report highlighted the targeting of sitting members of Brazil’s Congress and journalists for censorship, including lower house members Carla Zambelli and Marcel van Hattem.
Internal files shared by Mr. Shellenberger indicated that Twitter in Brazil was under threat of fines and legal action for failing to comply with censorship orders. The justice in question was reported to have been censoring individuals on social media without due process.
Allegations were made that Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes had pressured Twitter to violate its own data policies and deplatform individuals without providing them with a fair process. Similar to actions taken against Donald Trump and conservative voices in the United States, the justice aimed to weaponize Twitter’s content moderation policies against supporters of then-President Jair Bolsonaro.
In response to the aggressive censorship in Brazil, Mr. Musk expressed concern over the violation of laws and the will of the Brazilian people. Journalist Paulo Figueiredo, who was censored by the court order, thanked Mr. Musk for his efforts to combat censorship in Brazil.
Mr. Musk’s commitment to free speech was evident in his refusal to comply with the court order and his dedication to creating a platform where diverse beliefs can be debated openly. This stance was reinforced by his symbolic gesture of an image depicting “FREE SPEECH” for the people of Earth on X’s platform.
Overall, the actions taken by Mr. Musk and X Corp. reflect a strong stand against censorship and a commitment to upholding principles of free speech. Can you please rewrite this sentence?
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