Business
Elon Musk Will Be Investigated Over Fake News And Obstruction In Brazil After A Supreme Court Order
Rio de Janeiro: A crusading Brazilian Supreme Court justice has named Elon Musk as a target in an ongoing inquiry into the spread of fake news, and he has launched a second investigation into the US business tycoon for possible obstruction.
In his decision, Justice Alexandre de Moraes noted that Musk began waging a public “disinformation campaign” regarding the top court’s actions on Saturday and that Musk continued the next day, most notably with comments that his social media company X would cease to comply with the court’s orders to block certain accounts.
Elon Musk Will Be Investigated Over Fake News And Obstruction In Brazil After A Supreme Court Order
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX who took over Twitter in late 2022, accused de Moraes of repressing free expression and violating Brazil’s constitution and stated on X that users might try to avoid any suspension of the social media platform by utilizing VPNs, or virtual private networks.
According to the decision’s language, Musk will be investigated for alleged purposeful illegal instrumentalization of X as part of an inquiry into a network of digital militias accused of spreading defamatory fake news and threats against Supreme Court justices. The new probe will determine whether Musk engaged in obstruction, criminal organization, or incitement.
“The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil,” de Moraes wrote in a letter on Sunday.
X’s press office did not respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment, and Musk had not publicly spoken as of Monday morning, save from brief posts on X.
Brazil’s political right has long accused de Moraes of overstepping his authority by restricting free expression and engaging in political persecution. In the digital militias probe, parliamentarians from former President Jair Bolsonaro’s circle have been imprisoned, and the residences of his followers have been raided. Bolsonaro himself became the focus of the probe in 2021.
In March 2022, the justice ordered the nationwide shutdown of messaging app Telegram because the platform had repeatedly ignored requests from Brazilian authorities, including a police request to block profiles and provide information related to blogger Allan dos Santos, a Bolsonaro ally accused of spreading falsehoods. Dos Santos’ account is among those blocked on X in Brazil. Less than 48 hours after announcing his ruling in 2022, Judge Moraes stated that Telegram had cooperated and allowed operations to restart.
De Moraes’ supporters have argued that his decisions, while extraordinary, are legally sound and necessary to rid social media of fake news and eliminate threats to Brazilian democracy, as highlighted by the Jan. 8, 2023, uprising in Brazil’s capital, which resembled the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection in the United States Capitol.
The Supreme Court’s chief justice, Luís Roberto Barroso, stated that while judicial decisions can be appealed, deliberate non-compliance is never acceptable.
On Saturday, Musk, a self-proclaimed free speech absolutist, said on X that the platform would relax all limitations on barred accounts. He predicted that the move would dry up revenue in Brazil and cause the firm to close its local operation.
“But principles matter more than profit,” he stated in a letter.
Elon Musk Will Be Investigated Over Fake News And Obstruction In Brazil After A Supreme Court Order
Brazil is a major market for social media companies. According to the market research firm Emarketer, over 40 million Brazilians, or roughly 18% of the population, use X at least once monthly.
Musk also ordered Brazilian customers to use a VPN to maintain access if X was shut down, and he stated that X would disclose all of de Moraes’ demands, saying they violated Brazilian law.
In a follow-up letter, he added, “These are the most draconian demands of any country on Earth!”
Brazil’s constitution, drafted following the 1964-1985 military dictatorship, has a long list of aspirational aims as well as prohibitions on particular offenses such as racism and, more recently, homophobia. However, freedom of speech is not absolute.
Musk had yet to release de Moraes’ demands as of Monday morning, and prominent blocked accounts remained so, indicating that X had failed to act on Musk’s previous promises.
Moraes’ decision advised against doing so, stating that each blocked account X later reactivates will result in a fine of 100,000 reais ($20,000) per day, and individuals involved would be held criminally accountable for violating a court order.
“Incorporating Elon Musk into the digital militias inquiry is one thing. Another option is to block X. Moraes is nodding, indicating that he did not remain silent in the face of Elon Musk’s provocations,” said Carlos Affonso, director of the Rio de Janeiro-based think tank Institute for Technology and Society, speaking by phone from Washington. “It is a warning shot so that lines aren’t crossed.”
Affonso, a civil rights professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, was at Georgetown Law School on Monday for a symposium on Brazil’s business climate and regulations, and the ramifications of Moraes’ ruling for Musk and X were “the talk of the town.” Affonso is also concerned about what the building conflict may imply for Musk’s Starlink satellites, which give internet access to distant Brazilian locations such as the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands.
Elon Musk Will Be Investigated Over Fake News And Obstruction In Brazil After A Supreme Court Order
Bolsonaro, who awarded Musk a prestigious medal on his visit to Brazil in 2022, was among those pressing Musk to keep his pledge to publish records. He claimed they would reveal how the top electoral court was pressed to interfere in the 2022 election, which he lost. Bolsonaro has frequently made such allegations without providing evidence.
“Our freedom today is largely in his hands,” Bolsonaro said of Musk during a live social media broadcast Sunday night. “The action he’s taking, what he’s been saying, he hasn’t been intimidated, and he has stated that he will put forward this idea of fighting for freedom for our country. That is good.”
The lower house politician in charge of a bill to establish restrictions for social media sites stated on X that the experience highlighted the importance of putting the idea to a vote. The Senate approved it in 2020. On Saturday night, Brazil’s attorney general announced his support for regulation.
“We cannot live in a society where billionaires based abroad control social media and put themselves in a position to undermine the rule of law by failing to comply with court decisions and threatening our officials. “Social peace is not negotiable,” Jorge Messias wrote on X.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s minister of institutional relations, Alexandre Padilha, stated Monday on X that the administration will support the Supreme Court and its investigations and collaborate with Congress and civil society to develop a regulatory framework.
SOURCE – (AP)
Business
Sonic the Hedgehog Dominates Christmas Wish Lists
Sonic the Hedgehog is dominating Christmas wish lists this year. The lovable blue hedgehog is back in the spotlight, from sonic the hedgehog toys and games to sonic the hedgehog coloring pages and movie hype.
Sonic-themed holiday merchandise is on fire, from quirky sweaters to action figures flying off shelves. Sonic the Hedgehog Christmas outfits for kids are selling out fast, making them a go-to gift option for festive fun.
Retailers have been quick to recognize Sonic’s holiday appeal. Special promotions and exclusive items, like the Sonic holiday t-shirts, are everywhere.
Everyone’s stocking up on Sonic merchandise, from big-box stores to boutique retailers.
Online shopping platforms are seeing a surge in searches for Sonic items. Whether it’s Sonic Christmas-themed tops or Sonic the Hedgehog coloring pages, Sonic the Hedgehog toys or Sonic and the Hedgehog 3, the demand is skyrocketing.
Retailers who tap into this trend are sure to see strong holiday sales.
Sonic has been around since the early 90s, but his popularity never wanes. With the release of Sonic 3, fans are more excited than ever.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures is preparing “Sonic the Hedgehog 4,” with the newest addition in the family-friendly genre set for a spring 2027 release.
The announcement comes as “Sonic 3” opens in theatres on Friday, estimated to gross $55 million to $60 million from 3,800 North American locations.
The sequel is shaping up to be a good holiday season blockbuster for Paramount, which explains the desire in future “Sonic” adventures. On the international front, the film will be released on Christmas Day in 52 markets.
On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave “Sonic 3” an outstanding 87% fresh score.
The first two films grossed a total of $725.2 million at the global box office and generated over $180 million in global consumer expenditure through home entertainment rentals and digital purchases.
They also inspired a spinoff Paramount+ series, “Knuckles,” which premiered earlier this year.
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Business
Amazon Strike Called By Teamsters Union 10,000 Walkout
An Amazon strike has hit facilities in the United States in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the corporation for a labour agreement during a peak shopping season.
The Teamsters union told the Associated Press that Amazon delivery drivers at seven facilities in the United States walked off the job on Thursday after the firm failed to discuss a labour contract.
According to the union, Amazon employees in Teamsters union jackets were protesting at “hundreds” of additional Amazon facilities, which the union billed as the “largest strike” in US history involving the company.
The corporation, which employs over 800,000 people in its US delivery network, stated that its services will be unaffected.
It was unclear how many people, including members of Germany’s United Services Union, participated in Thursday’s demonstration. The Teamsters union reported that thousands of Amazon employees were implicated in the United States.
Amazon Strike at 10 Locations
Overall, the group claims to represent “nearly 10,000” Amazon strikers, having signed up thousands of people at roughly ten locations across the country, many of whom have joined in recent months.
The organization has claimed recognition from Amazon going on strike, claiming the firm illegally neglected its obligation to bargain collectively over salary and working conditions.
The Teamsters is a long-standing US union with nearly one million members. It is well-known for securing lucrative contracts for its members at companies like delivery behemoth UPS.
Most of the Teamsters’ Amazon campaigns have concerned drivers working for third-party delivery companies that partner with the tech behemoth.
Amazon denies that it is liable as an employer in those circumstances, which is a point of legal contention. In at least one case, labour officials have taken a preliminary stance in favour of the union.
Stalled Contract Negotiations
Amazon employees at a major warehouse on Staten Island in New York have also chosen to join the Teamsters. Their warehouse is the only Amazon facility in the United States where labour officials have formally recognized a union win.
However, the Amazon strike is because contract negotiations have not progressed since the 2022 vote. It was not one of the areas scheduled to go on strike on Thursday.
Amazon, one of the largest employers in the United States, has long received criticism for its working conditions and has been the target of activists seeking to gain traction among its employees.
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Business
Amazon Encounters Numerous Strikes As Unions Aim At The Holiday Shopping Surge.
(VOR News) – Thousands of Amazon employees at various sites across the country were scheduled to go on strike on Thursday in an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the retail behemoth to acknowledge its unionised workers in the United States.
The walkout is expected to concentrate on seven Amazon locations across the country during the holiday purchasing surge and may be the most significant union action against Amazon in the nation’s history.
The business announced on Thursday morning that there had been no effect on operations. It also stated that it is “continuing to concentrate on fulfilling customers’ holiday orders.”
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters maintains that it represents more than 10,000 Amazon employees and contractors in aviation centres, warehouses, and delivery centres.
Amazon has refused to acknowledge the union for many years.
The retail giant, which employs approximately 1.5 million individuals, excludes contractors and part-timers. A strike has been initiated by delivery couriers and warehouse employees at seven distinct locations in order to exert pressure on the company to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement that would encompass modifications to compensation, amenities, and working conditions.
Picketing was intended for New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Skokie, Illinois.
Also, the Teamsters assert that they are establishing picket lines at “hundreds” of additional warehouses and delivery centres by encouraging non-unionized workers to picket under U.S. labour law, which protects workers’ ability to take collective action to further their interests.
“Amazon workers are exercising their power,” Randy Korgan stated to NPR.
“They now realise there is a pathway to take on a corporate giant like this – and that they hold the power.” Amazon responds by accusing the Teamsters of fabricating information regarding the strikes, asserting that the participants are “entirely” outsiders rather than employees or subcontractors of the corporation.
Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated that “the reality is that they were unable to secure sufficient support from our employees and partners and have invited external parties to harass and intimidate our team.” For more than a year, the Teamsters have been intentionally misleading the public by claiming to represent “thousands of employees and drivers.” They do not.
The Teamsters did not provide a specific duration for the strike; however, they informed NPR that it would extend beyond one day. Workers would receive $1,000 per week in strike money, as per the union.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien issued a statement in which he stated, “If your package is delayed during the holidays, you can attribute it to Amazon’s insatiable greed.” We established a firm deadline for Amazon to attend the meeting and treat our members equitably. They disregarded it.
The Teamsters granted until December 15 to convene with its unionised employees and develop a collective bargaining agreement.
Amazon has opposed all unionisation efforts in court, asserting that unions were not advantageous to its employees and emphasising the compensation and benefits that the organisation currently provides.
Amazon has been accused of discriminatory labour practices on numerous occasions, including the termination of labour organisers. Furthermore, it has disputed its official status as a contract employer.
Teamsters organize Amazon delivery couriers and other employees.
In June, Amazon established its first unionised warehouse in Staten Island, New York, two years after making history by voting to join the fledgling Amazon Labour Union, which is also affiliated with the Teamsters.
The union is one of the most influential in the United States and Canada, with 1.3 million members. On Thursday, the German United Services Union declared that Amazon employees in Germany would participate in a strike in conjunction with their American counterparts.
In the past, Amazon has experienced demonstrations in Germany and Spain that were related to the holiday season in order to advocate for improved wages and working conditions.
“The holiday season has arrived.” Delivery is anticipated. Patricia Campos-Medina, the executive director of Cornell University’s Worker Institute, asserts that “this is the moment in which workers have control over the supply chain.”
The Teamsters have reported that Amazon’s profits have increased both during and after the pandemic. The corporation is currently valued at over $2.3 trillion, with net income of $15 billion in the most recent quarter alone. It is the second-largest private employer in the United States, following Walmart.
SOURCE: NPR
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