In a significant turn of events, after a blackout of over three weeks, X is on the verge of complying with Brazil’s highest court to restore access to its platform.
This decision comes after a protracted battle between the social media giant and the Supreme Court, which had led to the social media platform being offline for most of September.
Introduction
In a significant turn of events, after a blackout of over three weeks, X is on the verge of complying with Brazil’s highest court to restore access to its platform.
This decision comes after a protracted battle between the social media giant and the Supreme Court, which had led to the social media platform being offline for most of September.
Court Orders Compliance
On Friday, X’s legal team notified Brazil’s Supreme Court of its new legal representation, a crucial step towards reinstating the platform in Brazil. This move follows the court’s order, giving X an additional five days to formalise the representation paperwork.
During its brief return online on September 18, X expressed commitment to collaborating with the Brazilian government, marking a noticeable change in tone from its previous stance.
Past Accusations and Conflicts
Earlier in August, just hours before the national ban was enacted, X’s account had launched pointed and political accusations against Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Elon Musk had labelled de Moraes as ‘Brazil’s Voldemort’ and ‘Darth Vader’, and had even created an account dedicated to exposing purported abuses of power by the Justice.
Democracy and Hate Speech Concerns
The order to block specific accounts on X dates back to May 2020, when de Moraes identified them as containing hate speech and targeting democratic institutions. Many of these accounts were linked to supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former far-right president.
Bolsonaro was barred from running for office for eight years in 2023 due to a court ruling regarding his abuse of power and false claims about compromised voting machines.
The ongoing investigation focuses on the spread of misinformation and hate speech, probing content that questioned the integrity of Brazil’s 2022 presidential elections and other conspiracy theories.
X’s Initial Compliance and Subsequent Rebellion
Initially, X had complied with the court’s directives and removed the flagged accounts. However, by April, X’s Global Affairs account deemed the court’s orders illegal, citing a prolonged appeal process that violated due process.
Musk later threatened to reinstate the accounts, asserting that ‘principles matter more than profit’. This defiant stance further escalated tensions between X and Brazil’s judiciary.
Broader Political Implications
The disagreement between Musk and de Moraes extends beyond the courtroom. During X’s temporary reinstatement, Bolsonaro publicly supported Musk, describing the court’s decision to block users as censorship and a violation of fundamental rights.
In the United States, Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar introduced legislation targeting foreign officials who infringe upon Americans’ First Amendment rights, mentioning Musk and de Moraes explicitly.
Steps Towards Resolution
To be reinstated in Brazil, X must complete its legal representation paperwork, pay a fine of approximately $1 million for its brief return to service, and provide evidence that all court-identified accounts are blocked.
These steps are required to ensure compliance with the court’s orders and restore service to X’s 21 million users in Brazil.
In conclusion, Musk’s X is taking definitive steps to comply with Brazil’s highest court, marking the end of a prolonged dispute.
This move is crucial for reinstating the platform’s service to millions of Brazilian users, aligning with the country’s judicial requirements.
