Brazil Lifts Ban On X After Elon Musk Caves And Pays $5m Fine

The Brazilian Supreme Court has lifted the suspension of X activities, the social network service previously known as Twitter. The company paid more than 28 million reais ($5.1 million) in fines as well as fulfilled specific requirements. Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted X “immediate return” of its activities in the country, after it blocked accounts accused of misinforming their followers and agreed to ensure the appointment of a local representative, an action required by a law in Brazil.

The platform, which is owned by multibillionaire Elon Musk, faced restrictions after the company refused to comply with an order to ban several profiles that were allegedly spreading misinformation about the 2022 Brazilian Presidential election. In reaction to this defiance, Justice Moraes ordered the platform to be blocked nationwide. Musk’s decision to close X’s office in Brazil and terminate its local staff at the end of August did little to improve relations.

Musk, who identified as a “free-speech absolutist,” first denounced Justice Moraes’ actions as an infringement on his authority and a breach of the right to free speech. X, however, started to abide by the court’s instructions in September after coming under increasing legal and financial pressure.

Anatel, the telecom regulator in Brazil, has been directed to make sure that the 22 million users of the platform may resume service in a day. Virtual private networks, or VPNs, were increasingly popular nationwide during the ban since so many users switched to other sites like Bluesky.

On Tuesday, X celebrated its return to the Brazilian market, with its government affairs team stating, “Giving tens of millions of Brazilians access to our indispensable platform was paramount throughout this entire process.”

Brazil remains one of X’s largest markets globally and its biggest in Latin America. By meeting the court’s demands, X aims to restore its presence in this key region while reinforcing its commitment to adhere to local laws and regulations.