Elon Musk and X, the social media platform he owns, have been in a face off with the Brazilian justice system for months. After X was banned in the country, Musk tried to defy the ban by using Starlink to bypass it. However, the tension appears to be subsiding now due to a shift in the X owner’s position.
X has relented. According to a new court ruling cited in The New York Times, X’s lawyers claim to have complied with the requirements imposed by the Brazilian judiciary. Specifically, they say the social media company has blocked the requested accounts, paid fines, and appointed a new legal representative in the country.
Not so fast. However, in response to X’s lawyers, the Supreme Court stated that the company hasn’t provided the necessary documentation to prove that it has carried out these measures. It has five days to do so.
A fight that started over false information. The case started when the Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes initiated an investigation and found that certain accounts had spread false information about the Brazilian electoral process. After requesting the closure of these accounts, X initially stated that it would block them. However, it ultimately didn’t take any action and ceased operations in Brazil.
Obey or leave. Moraes prohibited the company’s service in Brazil and threatened X with fines of nearly $1 million per day if the company attempted to bypass the prohibition. As a result, Brazilian users began seeking alternative platforms, leading to the increased popularity of platforms such as Bluesky, Threads, and Tumblr.
Defeat for the tycoon? According to The New York Times, the platform’s ban in Brazil appeared to be a setback for Musk, who has long viewed X as a platform where freedom of expression is crucial. As of now, there’s been no official confirmation or comment from Musk’s account on this issue.
An important market for X. Brazil has been one of the most significant markets for X in terms of business. Analysts estimate that the social media platform has approximately 20 million Brazilian users. The ban could present a real threat to the site’s future in the country, but it seems that the situation could go back to normal following the company’s recent legal actions.
Image | Rafaela Biazi | Kelly Sikkema
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