Brazil Supreme Court justice investigating Elon Musk over fake news and alleged obstruction

Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court has expanded his ongoing investigation into the dissemination of fake news to include Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. The investigation was initiated in May 2021, following allegations that several individuals and organizations spread false information during the 2022 presidential election campaign in Brazil.

On May 29, 2023, Justice de Moraes issued a decision adding Musk to the list of individuals under investigation for sharing or promoting false information on social media platforms, specifically Twitter, regarding the election process in Brazil. The justice's decision was based on Musk's tweets on May 27, 2023, where he shared a link to an article published by the website "Gab," which contained false information about the Brazilian election results.

Additionally, on May 28, 2023, Justice de Moraes opened a separate investigation into Musk for alleged obstruction of the ongoing investigation. The allegations stem from Musk's refusal to comply with a court order to remove his tweets sharing the false information, despite being contacted by the court multiple times. The justice's decision to open this new investigation highlights the seriousness of his concerns regarding Musk's actions and potential impact on the democratic process in Brazil.

It is important to note that this information is based on publicly available sources, and the outcome of these investigations is yet to be determined. Both the dissemination of false information and obstruction of justice are serious offenses in Brazil, and if found guilty, Musk could face penalties such as fines, suspension of his social media accounts, or even imprisonment.

The Brazilian Supreme Court has been actively working to combat the spread of false information during the election period, issuing numerous orders to remove such content from social media platforms and taking legal action against individuals responsible for spreading false information. The inclusion of Elon Musk in this investigation underscores the court's commitment to upholding the democratic process and maintaining truthful information during elections.