Elon Musk's social media platform X has resumed its services in Brazil after a suspension imposed by the country's federal Supreme Court. This suspension occurred due to Musk's noncompliance with court orders to eliminate certain accounts and content considered detrimental to Brazil's democratic framework.
“X is delighted to return to Brazil,” the company stated via its global government affairs account, highlighting the necessity of ensuring access to its platform for millions of Brazilian users. The suspension began on August 31 following a ruling by Minister Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil's Supreme Tribunal Federal (STF), which was later upheld by additional justices.
The court determined that X violated laws designed to combat hate speech, incitements to violence, and misinformation. Moreover, Brazil mandates that tech firms maintain a legal representative in the country, a requirement Musk initially refused to meet.
Rather than comply, Musk chose to shut down X’s office in Brazil and did not appoint a legal representative, publicly criticizing Minister de Moraes and comparing him to Voldemort. However, under mounting pressure from investors and the possibility of incurring daily fines, X ultimately agreed to adhere to Brazil's legal framework by late September.
Reports suggest that investor apprehensions played a pivotal role in compelling the company to resolve the matter, as both X and Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, faced the risk of their business accounts being frozen in Brazil.
On Tuesday, Brazil’s Supreme Court affirmed that X had met the necessary conditions for resuming operations, stating, “The company complied with the conditions set by the rapporteur, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, and the platform may once again be accessed by Brazilians.”
During X's hiatus, rival platforms like Bluesky and Threads saw notable increases in user engagement in Brazil. According to G1 Globo news, users began regaining access to X on Tuesday following the court’s green light, signaling the conclusion of a tense standoff and enabling X to function under stricter regulatory oversight.
Credit:Starr FM.
