Brazil’s Supreme Court has given social media platform X the green light to resume operations in the country, 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.
Supreme Court Justice 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.
“X has fulfilled all the conditions required to resume its activities,” Moraes stated in his decision.
Musk, who initially condemned 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. However, by 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday, users in Brazil were still unable to access the platform.
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.
Similar conflicts have arisen in countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, where governments are working to curb the spread of online misinformation.
The saga in Brazil began when 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.
X’s refusal to comply with the court’s rulings led to its decision in mid-August to shut down its Brazilian offices and cease legal representation in the country, triggering the suspension.
The court also took action against another Musk-owned company, freezing Starlink’s accounts to cover fines imposed on X.
In late September, the company appointed lawyer Rachel de Oliveira Conceição as its new legal representative in Brazil and began blocking accounts as ordered by the court. Earlier this month, X paid the fines it had previously ignored, paving the way for its reinstatement.
Despite the reinstatement, X’s absence during the final month of Brazil’s municipal elections—held last Sunday—was notable. The elections in many cities, including São Paulo, will proceed to run-offs scheduled for October 27.
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.
Boluwatife Enome
Source:Reuters
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