Top Brazilian judge orders suspension of X platform in Brazil amid feud with Musk

Tesla and SpaceX chief executive officer Elon Musk (L) and Brazil's Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes. (Agencies)
Tesla and SpaceX chief executive officer Elon Musk (L) and Brazil's Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes. (Agencies)
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Updated 02 September 2024
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Top Brazilian judge orders suspension of X platform in Brazil amid feud with Musk

Tesla and SpaceX chief executive officer Elon Musk (L) and Brazil's Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes. (Agencies)
  • “Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country,” de Moraes wrote

SAO PAULO: A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Friday ordered the suspension of Elon Musk’s social media giant X in Brazil after the tech billionaire refused to name a legal representative in the country, according to a copy of the decision seen by The Associated Press
The move further escalates the monthslong feud between the two men over free speech, far-right accounts and misinformation.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes had warned Musk on Wednesday night that X could be blocked in Brazil if he failed to comply with his order to name a representative, and established a 24-hour deadline. The company hasn’t had a representative in the country since earlier this month.
In his decision, de Moraes gave Internet service providers and app stores five days to block access to X, and said the platform will remain blocked until it complies with his orders. He also said people or companies who use virtual private networks, or VPNs, to access X will be subject to daily fines of 50,000 reais ($8,900).
“Elon Musk showed his total disrespect for Brazilian sovereignty and, in particular, for the judiciary, setting himself up as a true supranational entity and immune to the laws of each country,” de Moraes wrote.

Brazil is an important market for X, which has struggled with the loss of advertisers since Musk purchased the former Twitter in 2022. Market research group Emarketer says some 40 million Brazilians, roughly one-fifth of the population, access X at least once per month.
X had posted on its official Global Government Affairs page late Thursday that it expected X to be shut down by de Moraes, “simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents.”
“When we attempted to defend ourselves in court, Judge de Moraes threatened our Brazilian legal representative with imprisonment. Even after she resigned, he froze all of her bank accounts,” the company wrote. “Our challenges against his manifestly illegal actions were either dismissed or ignored. Judge de Moraes’ colleagues on the Supreme Court are either unwilling or unable to stand up to him.”
X has clashed with de Moraes over its reluctance to comply with orders to block users.
Accounts that the platform previously has shut down on Brazilian orders include lawmakers affiliated with former President Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing party and activists accused of undermining Brazilian democracy.
Musk, a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” has repeatedly claimed the justice’s actions amount to censorship, and his argument has been echoed by Brazil’s political right. He has often insulted de Moraes on his platform, characterizing him as a dictator and tyrant.
De Moraes’ defenders have said his actions aimed at X have been lawful, supported by most of the court’s full bench and have served to protect democracy at a time in which it is imperiled. His order Friday is based on Brazilian law requiring foreign companies to have representation in the country so they can be notified when there are legal cases against them.
Given that operators are aware of the widely publicized standoff and their obligation to comply with an order from de Moraes, plus the fact doing so isn’t complicated, X could be offline as early as 12 hours after receiving their instructions, said Luca Belli, coordinator of the Technology and Society Center at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Rio de Janeiro.
The shutdown is not unprecedented in Brazil.
Lone Brazilian judges shut down Meta’s WhatsApp, the nation’s most widely used messaging app, several times in 2015 and 2016 due to the company’s refusal to comply with police requests for user data. In 2022, de Moraes threatened the messaging app Telegram with a nationwide shutdown, arguing it had repeatedly ignored Brazilian authorities’ requests to block profiles and provide information. He ordered Telegram to appoint a local representative; the company ultimately complied and stayed online.
X and its former incarnation, Twitter, have been banned in several countries — mostly authoritarian regimes such as Russia, China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Venezuela and Turkmenistan. Other countries, such as Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt, have also temporarily suspended X before, usually to quell dissent and unrest. Twitter was banned in Egypt after the Arab Spring uprisings, which some dubbed the “Twitter revolution,” but it has since been restored.
A search Friday on X showed hundreds of Brazilian users inquiring about VPNs that could potentially enable them to continue using the platform by making it appear they were logging on from outside the country. It was not immediately clear how Brazilian authorities would police this practice and impose fines cited by de Moraes.
Mariana de Souza Alves Lima, known by her handle MariMoon, showed her 1.4 million followers on X that she would go to rival social network BlueSky, posting a screenshot and saying: “That is where I’m going.”
X said that it plans to publish what it has called de Moraes’ “illegal demands” and related court filings “in the interest of transparency.”
Also on Thursday evening, Starlink, Musk’s satellite Internet service provider, said on X that de Moraes this week froze its finances, preventing it from doing any transactions in the country where it has more than 250,000 customers.
“This order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied— unconstitutionally— against X. It was issued in secret and without affording Starlink any of the due process of law guaranteed by the Constitution of Brazil. We intend to address the matter legally,” Starlink said in its statement.
Musk replied to people sharing the reports of the freeze, adding insults directed at de Moraes. “This guy @Alexandre is an outright criminal of the worst kind, masquerading as a judge,” he wrote.
Musk later posted on X that SpaceX, which runs Starlink, will provide free Internet service in Brazil “until the matter is resolved” since “we cannot receive payment, but don’t want to cut anyone off.”
In his decision, de Moraes said he ordered the freezing of Starlink’s assets, as X didn’t have enough money in its accounts to cover mounting fines, and reasoning that the two companies are part of the same economic group.

 


Trump vows to prosecute Google for showing ‘bad’ stories on him

Trump vows to prosecute Google for showing ‘bad’ stories on him
Updated 28 September 2024
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Trump vows to prosecute Google for showing ‘bad’ stories on him

Trump vows to prosecute Google for showing ‘bad’ stories on him
  • Trump complained that the search engine displays only positive articles about his Democratic rival Kamala Harris
  • "Hopefully the Justice Department will criminally prosecute them for this blatant Interference of Elections,” he said in a post on his Truth Social platform

SAN FRANCISCO, California: Donald Trump on Friday accused Google of showing only “bad stories” about him and vowed to have the tech giant prosecuted if he gets back in the White House.
Trump provided no backing for his accusation in a post on his Truth Social platform, in which he added that the search engine displays only positive articles about his Democratic rival Vice President Kamala Harris.
“This is an ILLEGAL ACTIVITY, and hopefully the Justice Department will criminally prosecute them for this blatant Interference of Elections,” he said in the post.
“If not, and subject to the Laws of our Country, I will request their prosecution, at the maximum levels, when I win the election.”
The Trump post came after a conservative group reported on what it said it found when doing a search on “Donald Trump presidential race 2024.”
“Both campaign websites consistently appear at the top of Search for relevant and common search queries,” Google said in response to an AFP inquiry.
“This report looked at a single rare search term on a single day a few weeks ago, and even for that search, both candidates’ websites ranked in the top results on Google.”
Google has been adamant that it does not manipulate search results to favor any political candidate.
The company does not disclose the inner workings of the software that powers its ubiquitous search engine.
However, factors known to influence search results for news stories include the timeliness and popularity of topics.
Trump is at the center of numerous criminal and civil cases in which he faces accusations including sexual abuse, paying hush money to a porn star, interfering with the 2020 election and trying to thwart the peaceful transition of power after President Joe Biden defeated him.
 


From the Middle East to London and back: Bloomberg host’s journey as a news anchor bridging cultures

From the Middle East to London and back: Bloomberg host’s journey as a news anchor bridging cultures
Updated 27 September 2024
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From the Middle East to London and back: Bloomberg host’s journey as a news anchor bridging cultures

From the Middle East to London and back: Bloomberg host’s journey as a news anchor bridging cultures
  • Joumana Bercetche tells Arab News how she went from successful banker to one of the leading Arab voices in international media

DUBAI: Joumana Bercetche’s career as a news anchor is about more than just presenting financial headlines, it is about telling the story of the Arab world to the West.

As the new host of Bloomberg’s “Horizons Middle East and Africa,” Bercetche has become one of the leading voices of the region in the international media.

Her job goes beyond covering markets and geopolitical events; it is also about breaking down complex narratives and fostering understanding between two distinct cultures.

“I see my role as two-fold: I am a host that covers economic and geopolitical issues but I am also a storyteller and I have a real opportunity to tell stories from the region,” she told Arab News.

“There is so much energy in this part of the world. The fact that I can speak and connect to people in Arabic makes them at ease and feel more comfortable to speak to me.”

Born in the UK and raised in Lebanon, Bercetche’s deep ties to both the Arab world and the West have helped her navigate the complexities of explaining the Middle East on a global stage.

After earning a degree in Economics from the American University of Beirut, she spent more than a decade working in London’s financial sector, at institutions such as Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, before switching careers to pursue journalism in 2017.

“I enjoyed what I was doing in banking but I felt too boxed in playing a certain role. I felt I had more ability of going broader in the topics I was interested in,” Bercetche said.

In 2016, therefore, she began to think about other opportunities that might suit her skill set.

“I asked myself, what would I like to do? I am interested in markets, I am curious, I like to chat with people and I like to communicate. But being a broadcast journalist wasn’t necessarily the path I was thinking of pursuing.”

In fact, her foray into journalism came about by chance. After creating research videos for former employer Citigroup, her work caught the eye of someone in the media industry who asked if she had ever considered a career in broadcast journalism.

“I decided to give it a try,” Bercetche said. “Changing paths and careers requires a leap of faith. I was excited but anxious as well. I thought, ‘What if I don’t become successful? What if this isn’t the right move to make?’ But then, in the worst case I could always go back to my banking job, so I took my leap of faith.”

The leap paid off. After working as a CNBC anchor in London, Bercetche joined Bloomberg in Dubai in February this year and is now one of the few Arab women who hold prominent positions in the international business media.

As the host of a show that reaches more than 400 million households worldwide, she views her role as a unique chance to share stories about the rapid transformations in the region, particularly as countries such as the Saudi Arabia and the UAE pursue bold development initiatives.

“You get the sense that something is being built,” Bercetche said. “You have Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, you have the UAE and other neighboring countries also working on their own visions, you walk around and see all this construction — there is excitement in the air.”

Moving from London to Dubai was another significant life decision but Bercetche feels a deep connection with the region and its future.

“There is a sense that it’s a period of development,” she said. “You can see the transformative impact of the high-level decision-makers.”

Despite her success, the transition to such a high-profile career was not without its challenges, and as a TV anchor she said she has learned to develop “a thick skin” when dealing with public scrutiny.

“If someone is criticizing you, consider the source,” she said. “Is it coming from someone you respect? Is it constructive? If the answer is yes, then take it on.

“If it’s being directed indiscriminately from someone who’s lashing out at you from some unknown profile online, ignore it.”

Bercetche is a strong advocate for the role of women in media, particularly in terms of balancing a career with family life. While she acknowledges the support she has received from female bosses throughout her career, she admits that juggling her job as a news anchor with motherhood has been her greatest challenge.

“Becoming a mother has been the biggest gift to me,” she said. “There is a lot of pressure on working parents to find the right balance between home and work life.

“On days I finish early, I dedicate a huge amount of time to my kids. It’s always a balancing act; it’s not easy. You never fully get over the guilt, you just park it.”

Reflecting on the milestones in her career so far, Bercetche said that success is a moving target, depending on the phase of one’s life.

“Starting my career in London was an experience in itself,” she added. “As for my journalism career, I am proud of what we’ve done, collectively as a team, in such a short period of time so far. A milestone’s a moving target.”

Her advice to aspiring journalists is simple: “Work hard. You have to be curious and remember the most useful question to ask: ‘Why?’

“Try to get to the bottom of the facts and get a convincing answer. Learn from your mistakes. Nobody’s flawless but it’s how you respond to the mistakes that will determine the success and longevity of your career. Be patient; things happen in due time.”


Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda wins Emmy Award despite nomination controversy

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda wins Emmy Award despite nomination controversy
Updated 26 September 2024
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Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda wins Emmy Award despite nomination controversy

Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda wins Emmy Award despite nomination controversy
  • ‘It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m Still Alive’ chronicles life under siege in Gaza
  • Jewish nonprofit Creative Community for Peace requested her nomination be rescinded after accusing Owda of having ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

LONDON: Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda has won an Emmy Award despite a lobbying campaign that sought to have her nomination rescinded.

Owda was awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Hard News Feature: Short Form for her ongoing project, “It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m Still Alive.”

“This award is testimony to the power of one woman, armed only with an iPhone, who survived almost a year of bombardment,” said senior executive producer Jon Laurence, who accepted the award on Owda’s behalf as she remains trapped in Gaza.

Produced with AJ+, the feature chronicles Owda’s experience as her family fled the bombardment of their home in Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip.

The announcement came shortly after the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) determined that there were no grounds for rescinding her nomination.

This decision followed accusations from Jewish nonprofit Creative Community for Peace, which claimed Owda had ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a US-designated terrorist organization.

NATAS stated that documented links between Owda and the PFLP occurred “between six and nine years ago” when Owda was still a teenager. It added that it was “unable to corroborate” claims of more recent connections and had found no “evidence of contemporary or active involvement” with the PFLP.

“The content submitted for award consideration was consistent with competition rules and NATAS policies. Accordingly, NATAS has found no grounds, to date, upon which to overturn the editorial judgment of the independent journalists who reviewed the material,” the group also said.

The 25-year-old filmmaker gained social media fame following Israel’s military actions in Gaza, after she began documenting life under the siege, which has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7.

With 4.7 million Instagram followers and nearly 200,000 TikTok followers, Owda has spent the last year chronicling the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Her reports highlight the blockade on essential supplies, the spread of diseases, and the forced displacement of Palestinians, including her own experience.

“It’s Bisan from Gaza and I’m Still Alive” also won the Peabody Award in the news category earlier this year.


Media freedom group sounds alarm on increased security risks for local journalists in Africa’s Sahel

A police officer and a soldier from Benin stop a motorcyclist at a checkpoint outside Porga, Benin, March 26, 2022. (AP)
A police officer and a soldier from Benin stop a motorcyclist at a checkpoint outside Porga, Benin, March 26, 2022. (AP)
Updated 24 September 2024
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Media freedom group sounds alarm on increased security risks for local journalists in Africa’s Sahel

A police officer and a soldier from Benin stop a motorcyclist at a checkpoint outside Porga, Benin, March 26, 2022. (AP)
  • Over the first six months of this year, 3,064 civilians were killed by the violence, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a 25 percent increase compared to the previous six months
  • In June, at least three journalists in Burkina Faso disappeared under suspicious circumstances, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists

DAKAR, Senegal: Local journalists in the Sahel region of Africa are facing increased security risks, a media freedom group said Tuesday, as extremist attacks and military coups have shaken the region in recent years.
At least two community radio journalists were killed and two kidnapped by armed groups in Mali and Chad since November last year, Reporters Without Borders said in a statement calling for the protection of local journalists.
“These crimes illustrate once again the deteriorating security context in which journalists in the Sahel are working,” Anne Bocandé, the organization’s editorial director, said.
“They are still present in these territories, to which no other information professional has access any more,” she added.
Three nations in the Sahel, an arid swath of land south of the Sahara, have been wracked by coups in recent years. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso are now ruled by military leaders who took power by force, pledging to provide more security to citizens.
But the security situation in the Sahel has worsened since the juntas took power, analysts say, with a record number of attacks and a record number of civilians killed both by militants and government forces. Over the first six months of this year, 3,064 civilians were killed by the violence, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a 25 percent increase compared to the previous six months.
Meanwhile, the ruling juntas have cracked down on political dissent and journalists. Earlier this year, Malian authorities banned the media from reporting on the activities of political parties and associations. Burkina Faso suspended the BBC and Voice of America radio stations for their coverage of a mass killing of civilians carried out by the country’s armed forces.
In June, at least three journalists in Burkina Faso disappeared under suspicious circumstances, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
“Generally speaking, the three juntas censor the media as soon as the security situation in the country is addressed in an unpleasant manner or when abuses are revealed,” Sadibou Marong, head of the sub-Saharan Africa office of Reporters Without Borders, told The Associated Press.
“Finding reliable and neutral information on government activities has become extremely complex, as has covering security situation in these countries,” Marong added.

 


Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE among world’s safest countries: Gallup report

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE among world’s safest countries: Gallup report
Updated 24 September 2024
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Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE among world’s safest countries: Gallup report

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE among world’s safest countries: Gallup report
  • High levels of security reported in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and even Bahrain are mainly due to economic porosperity and strong rule of law

LONDON: A majority of people in the three Arab countries of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE reported feeling safe in their local areas even during late hours, according to Gallup’s latest global safety survey.

The Global Safety Report, published by the polling organization Gallup on Sep. 24, revealed that in 2023, Kuwait ranked highest in public safety, with an astounding 99 percent of respondents saying they felt safe walking alone at night in their cities or residential neighborhoods.

Similarly, respondents from Saudi Arabia and the UAE also reported high levels of safety, with 92 percent and 90 percent, respectively, feeling secure in their local areas. Bahrain lagged slightly behind, at 87 percent.

The Gallup survey targeted samples of adults aged 15 and older across 140 countries and areas.

According to the report, the high levels of security reported in the three Gulf Cooperation Council countries are primarily attributed to economic prosperity and strict law enforcement.

Kuwait also ranked highest in the Law and Order index, scoring an impressive 98 out of 100 in 2023 and maintaining its position as one of the safest countries in the world since 2019, as per Gallup’s annual safety report.

As few as 4 percent of surveyed adults in Kuwait reported experiences with assault and 1 percent with theft. However, the poll did not ask the country’s residents about their confidence in the police.

Globally, 70 percent of adults felt safe during late hours in their areas in 2023, with 74 percent of respondents from the Middle East and North Africa reporting the same about their areas.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia was ranked the safest G20 country for solo female travelers, with the western city Madinah receiving the highest rating worldwide by InsureMyTrip for the third year in a row.