A U.S. congressional committee has released confidential Brazilian court orders that shed light on the suspension of accounts on the social media platform X, sparking allegations of censorship from the company and its owner, Elon Musk. The report, totaling 541 pages, revealed dozens of decisions by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordering X to suspend or remove around 150 user profiles in recent years. De Moraes had prohibited X from making these orders public, but the company responded to the committee's subpoenas to comply with U.S. law.

Musk, a self-proclaimed free-speech absolutist, has been vocal in his opposition to de Moraes' orders, equating them to censorship. Supporters of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro have also criticized de Moraes, claiming political persecution. De Moraes has been leading a five-year probe into "digital militias" spreading fake news and threats, which expanded to include those inciting protests to overturn Bolsonaro's election loss. Critics argue that de Moraes has abused his powers by unilaterally banning social media accounts, including those of elected officials.

The release of these secret orders has sparked debate about the legality and transparency of the decisions. While Musk has condemned the orders as aggressive censorship, X has complied with government requests in other countries. Brazil is a significant market for X, with millions of users accessing the platform regularly. De Moraes imposed hefty fines for noncompliance with his orders, and it remains unclear if the 150 suspended accounts represent the full extent of his directives.

Musk's defiance of de Moraes' orders led to the tech mogul being included in the investigation of digital militias. Despite Musk's initial refusal to comply with court orders, X's legal representative in Brazil later stated that the company would adhere to all court directives. The release of de Moraes' orders by the congressional committee has raised questions about the implications for U.S.-Brazil relations and the broader issue of free speech online.