00:51Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised billionaire Elon Musk after the owner of X defined the country's Supreme Court order to appoint a legal representative. The tensions between the billionaire and the government have escalated, and the social media platform risks being taken offline in Brazil.
"Any citizen from anywhere in the world who has an investment in Brazil is subject to the Brazilian Constitution and Brazilian laws. So, if the Supreme Court has made a decision for the citizen to comply with certain things, either he complies or he will have to take another course of action as it's not because the guy has a lot of money that he can be disrespectful," Lula said in a radio interview in Joao Pessoa on Friday.
He went on to say that Musk is an 'American citizen', 'not a citizen of the world' and he can not 'keep offending' presidents, deputies, the Senate, the House, Supreme Court.
"Who does he think he is? So here's the thing, man, he has to respect the decision of the Brazilian Supreme Court. If you like it, well, if you don't, bear with me. Otherwise, this country will never be sovereign," Lula added.
On Wednesday, Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes gave social media giant X 24 hours to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, as a requirement for operating a business in the country. If X did not comply, their operations would be shut down. Instead of complying with the court's order, X issued the latest in a series of statements denouncing de Moraes, according to reports.
According to the platform, X was still operating normally in Brazil on Friday morning. However, on Thursday, the company stated that they expected Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to order the shutdown 'soon'.
The court reportedly also blocked the local bank accounts of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet company. Under Brazilian regulations governing the internet, social media platforms must have a representative office in the country.
'Who does he think he is?' - Brazil's Lula tells Musk to 'respect' country's law after he defied Supreme Court order
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised billionaire Elon Musk after the owner of X defined the country's Supreme Court order to appoint a legal representative. The tensions between the billionaire and the government have escalated, and the social media platform risks being taken offline in Brazil.
"Any citizen from anywhere in the world who has an investment in Brazil is subject to the Brazilian Constitution and Brazilian laws. So, if the Supreme Court has made a decision for the citizen to comply with certain things, either he complies or he will have to take another course of action as it's not because the guy has a lot of money that he can be disrespectful," Lula said in a radio interview in Joao Pessoa on Friday.
He went on to say that Musk is an 'American citizen', 'not a citizen of the world' and he can not 'keep offending' presidents, deputies, the Senate, the House, Supreme Court.
"Who does he think he is? So here's the thing, man, he has to respect the decision of the Brazilian Supreme Court. If you like it, well, if you don't, bear with me. Otherwise, this country will never be sovereign," Lula added.
On Wednesday, Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes gave social media giant X 24 hours to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, as a requirement for operating a business in the country. If X did not comply, their operations would be shut down. Instead of complying with the court's order, X issued the latest in a series of statements denouncing de Moraes, according to reports.
According to the platform, X was still operating normally in Brazil on Friday morning. However, on Thursday, the company stated that they expected Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to order the shutdown 'soon'.
The court reportedly also blocked the local bank accounts of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet company. Under Brazilian regulations governing the internet, social media platforms must have a representative office in the country.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticised billionaire Elon Musk after the owner of X defined the country's Supreme Court order to appoint a legal representative. The tensions between the billionaire and the government have escalated, and the social media platform risks being taken offline in Brazil.
"Any citizen from anywhere in the world who has an investment in Brazil is subject to the Brazilian Constitution and Brazilian laws. So, if the Supreme Court has made a decision for the citizen to comply with certain things, either he complies or he will have to take another course of action as it's not because the guy has a lot of money that he can be disrespectful," Lula said in a radio interview in Joao Pessoa on Friday.
He went on to say that Musk is an 'American citizen', 'not a citizen of the world' and he can not 'keep offending' presidents, deputies, the Senate, the House, Supreme Court.
"Who does he think he is? So here's the thing, man, he has to respect the decision of the Brazilian Supreme Court. If you like it, well, if you don't, bear with me. Otherwise, this country will never be sovereign," Lula added.
On Wednesday, Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes gave social media giant X 24 hours to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, as a requirement for operating a business in the country. If X did not comply, their operations would be shut down. Instead of complying with the court's order, X issued the latest in a series of statements denouncing de Moraes, according to reports.
According to the platform, X was still operating normally in Brazil on Friday morning. However, on Thursday, the company stated that they expected Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to order the shutdown 'soon'.
The court reportedly also blocked the local bank accounts of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet company. Under Brazilian regulations governing the internet, social media platforms must have a representative office in the country.