Brazil’s Supreme Court Lifts Ban on X

Brazil’s Supreme Court has lifted the ban slammed on social media platform X, following compliance with court rulings that owner Elon Musk had previously resisted.

The decision came after months of tension between the platform and the Brazilian judiciary, culminating in X reversing its stance and fulfilling the court’s demands.

The ban stemmed from Musk’s failure to appoint a local representative and settle millions of dollars in fines. This situation arose amid a politically charged conflict between the billionaire owner and Brazil’s Supreme Court, which aimed to combat the spread of far-right misinformation and anti-democratic content on the platform. Experts and authorities in Brazil have linked the proliferation of such content to the far-right riots that occurred in Brasília in January 2023.

 Musk’s response to the ban was combative; he labeled Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes a dictator and mocked him on social media. Recently, however, Musk appeared to relent, paying 28.6 million reais (£3.9 million) in fines and appointing a Brazilian lawyer as X’s local representative, thereby meeting the country’s legal requirements.

Supreme Court Justice, led by Alexandre de Moraes, who had been engaged in a public feud with Musk over the platform’s non-compliance, announced that X had now met the legal requirements necessary to restart services in Brazil.

He said, “X has fulfilled all the conditions required to resume its activities."

Musk, earlier condemn the court orders as “censorship” and referred to Justice Moraes as a “dictator,” began altering his position in recent weeks.

The social media network, under Musk’s leadership, has started complying with the court’s orders by blocking flagged accounts, appointing a local legal representative, and paying fines that had previously been ignored.

Justice Moraes, in his ruling, instructed Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, to ensure that X is reactivated within 24 hours.

Elon Musk Ordered to Appoint X Representative in Brazil or Face Platform Suspension

X, through its Global Affairs account, expressed optimism about its return to Brazil.

“We are proud to be back in Brazil and will continue to defend freedom of speech, within the boundaries of the law,” the company stated.

Brazil’s communication minister, Juscelino Filho, welcomed X’s compliance, calling it a “victory for the country.” In a statement, Filho said, “We showed the world that here our laws should be respected, by whomever it may be.”

The dispute between X and the Brazilian authorities is part of a broader pattern of clashes between Musk, who has positioned himself as a free speech advocate, and governments worldwide.

Recall that Justice Moraes, who has been leading efforts to combat disinformation and protect democracy, suspended X after the platform defied court orders.

The suspension was later backed by a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, including its chief justice.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva supported the suspension, asserting that companies operating in Brazil must adhere to local laws.

“The world is not obliged to tolerate Musk’s far-right ideology just because he is rich,” Lula remarked, emphasizing that businesses must respect Brazilian law.

Initially, X had refused to comply, labeling the rulings “illegal.” However, the Supreme Court signaled it would reconsider the suspension if the platform changed course and followed court orders.

Brazil is a key market for X, with approximately 21.5 million users as of April, making it the company’s sixth-largest market globally. During the suspension, many users migrated to competing platforms like Bluesky and Meta-owned Threads.

With the court ruling now in place, X is expected to be fully operational in Brazil shortly, resuming its role in one of its largest markets.