Rio De Janeiro: Brazil’s First Lady, Janja Lula da Silva, directed a sharp remark at billionaire Elon Musk during a social event at the G20 summit on Saturday, underscoring her call for stronger regulation of social media to combat misinformation.
As she addressed attendees, a ship’s horn blared, prompting her to quip, “I think it’s Elon Musk,” before adding, “I’m not afraid of you, f*** you, Elon Musk.”
Musk, who owns the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), responded to a video of her comments with a laughing-out-loud emoji graphic. In a follow-up post, he commented, “They are going to lose the next election,” seemingly referencing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Social Media and Misinformation
The first lady’s remarks come amid heightened tensions surrounding social media regulation in Brazil. Earlier this year, Musk’s platform faced a one-month suspension in the country for failing to appoint a legal representative and disregarding court orders to block accounts spreading “fake news” and hate speech.
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Janja’s comments were made during a G20 event in Rio de Janeiro, where leaders of the world’s largest economies are set to convene on Monday and Tuesday to discuss global issues, including technology governance.
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Broader Context
Brazil has been at the forefront of debates on social media accountability, with President Lula’s administration advocating for stricter policies to address misinformation and online hate. Musk’s platform has repeatedly clashed with Brazilian authorities over compliance with local laws, further fueling the controversy.
