Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has agreed to comply with the Supreme Court of Brazil’s demands after a lengthy standoff. The platform was banned in Brazil in late August for failing to follow court orders related to controlling hate speech. After initially refusing to comply, X has now agreed to the court’s conditions, paving the way for the platform to resume operations in the country.
X to Appoint Legal Representative in Brazil
One of the Supreme Court’s key demands was for X to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, a requirement for foreign companies to operate legally in the country. X’s lawyers have confirmed that Rachel de Oliveira Conceição has been named as the platform’s legal representative. The court gave X five days to provide necessary documents, including proof of her appointment.
Brazilian law mandates that foreign firms must have a local representative to handle legal issues within the country. X had a legal representative until mid-August, but after closing its offices in Brazil, the platform had left this role vacant, which led to the court action.
X’s Compliance Follows a Series of Disputes
The decision to comply comes after a months-long dispute between Elon Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes. Earlier this year, Moraes had ordered X to block several accounts accused of spreading misinformation and hate speech during the government of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Musk had refused, criticizing the orders as censorship.
This refusal led Moraes to impose strict penalties on the company, including the suspension of X in Brazil and a hefty fine of $3 million for non-compliance. Furthermore, Judge Moraes ordered the blocking of financial accounts related to Musk’s satellite service company, Starlink.
X to Pay Fines and Block Accounts
In addition to complying with the legal representative requirement, X has also agreed to pay the fines imposed on the company by the Supreme Court. Initially, X had refused to pay the fines, but the platform has now reversed its stance. X’s legal team has confirmed that the platform has begun blocking accounts that were flagged for spreading hate speech, as per the court’s order.
With these steps, X is expected to resume operations in Brazil, following its temporary ban for non-compliance. This shift marks a significant change in Musk’s approach toward Brazilian legal matters, allowing the platform to avoid further legal penalties and restrictions.
