Elon Musk's social media platform X has resumed operations in Brazil following a contentious standoff with the country's Supreme Court that led to a month-long ban. The ban was lifted after X, formerly known as Twitter, complied with the court's demands, including appointing a legal representative in Brazil and blocking accounts that were accused of spreading false information.
Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes initially imposed the ban on August 30 after the platform failed to adhere to regulations intended to curb the spread of misinformation and harmful content. The decision came amid a broader effort by Brazil to tackle political disinformation and hate speech on digital platforms. Moraes, a prominent figure in the country's judiciary, had previously called out Musk for his reluctance to enforce content moderation laws, which sparked a tense public feud between the two.
X confirmed its compliance with the court's conditions in a statement, noting its commitment to maintaining the platform's accessibility in Brazil. "X is proud to return to Brazil," the company said in a post from its global government affairs account. "Giving tens of millions of Brazilians access to our indispensable platform was paramount throughout this entire process. We will continue to defend freedom of speech, within the boundaries of the law, everywhere we operate."
The platform's return was contingent on two key factors: blocking specific profiles disseminating false information and appointing a local legal representative to handle regulatory matters. Additionally, X was required to pay a fine of 28.6 million reals (approximately $5.1 million) to lift the restrictions imposed by the court. With these conditions met, the Brazilian Supreme Court announced that X could once again be accessed by users in the country.
The decision to ban X was part of Brazil's ongoing efforts to regulate online content and ensure that social media platforms do not become tools for spreading disinformation or inciting violence. The country has some of the world's strictest internet laws, designed to safeguard democratic institutions and prevent the dissemination of content that could undermine public trust or stoke unrest.
Musk's initial defiance of the court orders involved shutting down X's offices in Brazil and refusing to comply with demands to regulate certain user accounts. During this period, Musk publicly criticized Justice Moraes, likening him to the villain Voldemort from the "Harry Potter" series and accusing him of being a "fake judge" bent on destroying free speech for political gain.
The confrontation reached a turning point when the Brazilian Supreme Court took the drastic step of freezing X's business accounts in the country, as well as those of SpaceX's satellite service, Starlink. The escalating legal and financial pressures reportedly led Musk to reconsider his stance, particularly as investors in his ventures pushed for a resolution to the dispute.
During the suspension, rival platforms like Bluesky and Threads capitalized on X's absence, gaining significant user traction in Brazil. Data from SimilarWeb showed that these competitors quickly expanded their user bases, as Brazilian citizens sought alternatives to the blocked platform. The ban's lift now sets the stage for X to regain its foothold in one of Latin America's largest and most digitally active markets.
Justice Moraes, who has been vocal about the importance of regulating digital platforms, said in a statement that the court was satisfied with X's actions to meet the stipulated requirements. "The company complied with the conditions stipulated by the rapporteur, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, and the platform may once again be used by Brazilians," the court said.
Despite the resolution, the conflict has left a lasting mark on Musk's relations with Brazilian authorities. The billionaire's public feud with the judiciary highlighted his broader criticism of global regulatory efforts aimed at controlling online speech, which he argues is a violation of free expression. His initial refusal to comply with Brazil's laws was seen by many as a direct challenge to the country's sovereignty over digital governance.
