X Fights Brazil’s Supreme Court Over Zambelli Ban as Lawmaker Flees to U.S. Citing Political Persecution
Social media platform X, formerly Twitter, has formally appealed to Brazil’s Supreme Court after Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the blocking of accounts belonging to Congresswoman Carla Zambelli.
X argues that the court should only block specific posts found illegal, not entire accounts, warning that such broad bans amount to censorship and stifle lawful public communication.
The company’s legal team insists that Brazilian law requires courts to identify unlawful content, not just name accounts, and requests a review by the full Supreme Court if Moraes does not reverse his order.
Zambelli, a prominent ally of former President Jair Bolsonaro, left Brazil in late May 2025 after the Supreme Court sentenced her to more than ten years in prison for orchestrating a hack of the National Justice Council’s system.
Prosecutors say she directed a hacker to insert false documents, including a fake arrest warrant for Justice Moraes, in what they called an effort to undermine the judiciary. The court also imposed a 2 million reais fine for public damages.
Zambelli claims she is the victim of political persecution by the judiciary. She traveled by car from São Paulo to Foz do Iguaçu, crossed into Argentina, and then flew to Florida, United States.
She has publicly stated that she does not intend to return to Brazil, arguing that the country’s judiciary targets right-wing politicians and prevents her from fulfilling her legislative duties.
Zambelli says she will take her case to international forums to expose what she describes as abuses by Brazilian authorities. Brazil’s Prosecutor General requested Interpol to issue a red notice for Zambelli’s arrest and extradition.
She initially considered moving on to Italy, where she holds citizenship, but has indicated she may remain in Florida and seek political asylum, citing concerns that Italy could comply with Brazil’s extradition request more easily than the U.S.
Justice Moraes justifies his orders as necessary to combat disinformation and protect democratic institutions, arguing that freedom of expression does not cover criminal acts or attacks on the rule of law.
The Supreme Court has issued similar orders against other opposition figures and platforms, demanding swift compliance and imposing heavy fines for delays.
Brazil is a major market for X, with tens of millions of users. The company faces the challenge of balancing local legal demands with its stated commitment to free speech.
The Brazilian government has criticized X’s resistance, warning of possible escalation and broader bans. This dispute highlights the growing tension between global tech companies and national courts over control of digital platforms.
The outcome will affect how businesses operate in markets where legal and political risks are rising, and where judicial power can directly impact operations and user rights.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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