22.04.2024
An interview with
Estela Aranha
After Elon Musk boosted conspiracies about the persecution of Bolsonaro supporters, Brazils far-right was given a shot in the arm. The lawyer who debunked the story speaks about the new threat to Brazilian democracy: Big Tech.
The debunked 'Twitter Files Brazil' conspiracy went viral after being shared by Elon Musk. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
On 3 April, American journalist Michael Shellenberger posted a series of excerpts from emails by X (formerly Twitter) executives dubbed Twitter Files Brazil, which alleged to expose crimes by Brazils Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Moraes, Shellenberger claimed, had pressed criminal charges against X Brasils lawyer for refusing to turn over personal information on right-wing political enemies. Elon Musk quickly shared the tweets. They went viral and were embraced by the international far right, to the joy of former President Bolsonaro and his supporters.
A week later, Estela Aranha, former Secretary of Digital Rights in the Brazilian Justice Ministry, revealed rot at the heart of Shellenbergers narrative. The only criminal charge filed against X Brazil referenced in the leaked emails was made by the São Paulo District Attorneys Office (not by the Supreme Court Justice) after the company refused to turn over personal data on a leader of Brazils largest cocaine trafficking organisation, the PCC.
Shellenberger had cut the section of an email about a São Paulo criminal investigation and mixed it with communications complaining about Moraes on unrelated issues. Pressed by Brazilian reporters, Shellenberger wrote, I regret my mistake and apologise for it. I dont have evidence that Moraes threatened to file criminal charges against Twitters Brazilian lawyer.
More:
https://tribunemag.co.uk/2024/04/elon-against-lula/