Brazil’s Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Elon Musk’s Platform X After Compliance with Court Orders

 

Brazil’s Supreme Court announced on Tuesday, October 9, that the ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), has been lifted after the company met court demands and paid millions in fines.

The platform had been blocked for over a month in Brazil, its largest market in Latin America, following a dispute over the spread of disinformation. The case revolved around the platform's role in allowing misleading content to circulate during Brazil’s 2022 elections.

Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who had been at the forefront of the dispute, approved the immediate restoration of X's services. He also directed Brazil’s communications regulator to ensure the platform’s accessibility to millions of Brazilian users within 24 hours.

The conflict between Moraes and Musk escalated after X failed to remove dozens of right-wing accounts accused of spreading false information and did not appoint a new legal representative in Brazil, as required. In response, Moraes blocked the platform in August, leading to rising tensions.

Musk had openly criticized the judge, referring to him as an “evil dictator.” However, X eventually complied with the court's orders, including paying fines amounting to approximately $5.2 million.

This high-profile dispute, which drew global attention, highlighted the ongoing debate between protecting freedom of expression and enforcing corporate responsibility. With the platform now back in operation, X is once again accessible to its users in Brazil.