Brazil’s Supreme Court has granted social media platform X permission to resume its services in the country after the platform’s billionaire owner, Elon Musk, agreed to comply with the court’s rulings. This decision comes after a prolonged dispute between Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has been at the forefront of enforcing regulations against disinformation and attacks on democracy.
On Tuesday, Justice de Moraes announced that X had met all necessary requirements for its operations to restart in Brazil, effective immediately. Musk, who had previously criticized the court’s orders as censorship and labeled de Moraes a “dictator,” began changing his stance in recent weeks. X has since blocked accounts flagged by the court, engaged a local representative, and settled outstanding fines.
Justice de Moraes mandated that Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, facilitate X’s return to service within 24 hours. However, as of 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, users in Brazil were still unable to access the platform.
In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling, X expressed pride in its return to Brazil through its Global Affairs account. The company stated its commitment to defending free speech while adhering to local laws in the countries where it operates.
This dispute is part of a broader series of confrontations between Musk, who positions himself as a proponent of free speech, and various governments, including those in Australia and the United Kingdom, that are working to curb the spread of misinformation online.
Brazil’s Communication Minister, Juscelino Filho, hailed X’s compliance as a “victory for the country.” He emphasized that Brazil’s laws must be respected by all, regardless of wealth or influence.
The initial suspension of X’s services was based on a ruling from de Moraes, who has been actively combating perceived threats to democracy and the political misuse of disinformation. This ruling received unanimous support from a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, along with backing from Chief Justice Rosa Weber. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also supported the court’s actions, stating that businesses in Brazil must adhere to local laws and that the world should not tolerate Musk’s “far-right ideology” simply due to his wealth.
Justices indicated they would reconsider the suspension if X complied with their orders. Initially, X had resisted these orders, labeling them “illegal.” The platform is Brazil’s sixth-largest market, boasting approximately 21.5 million users as of April. During the suspension, many users shifted to competing platforms, such as Bluesky and Threads, owned by Meta Platforms.
Following a decision to close its Brazilian offices in mid-August due to the court orders, which it deemed “censorship,” X’s lack of local legal representation contributed to its suspension. This legal dispute also extended to Musk’s other enterprise, satellite Internet provider Starlink, which faced account freezes imposed by de Moraes to cover fines levied on X.
A new local representative, lawyer Rachel de Oliveira Conceicao, was appointed at the end of September. X also initiated the blocking of accounts as mandated by the court. Earlier this month, the company paid previously ignored fines, paving the way for its reinstatement.
Despite the suspension, X remained unavailable during the municipal election period in Brazil, which concluded on Sunday. However, run-off elections in several cities, including São Paulo, Latin America’s largest city, are set for October 27.
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