Social network X has informed Brazil’s Supreme Court that it has complied with orders to halt the spread of disinformation and has requested a judge to lift the platform’s block, Reuters reports, citing relevant documents.
Background on the Dispute
X’s owner, Elon Musk, has been in a dispute with Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes for over five months, resisting his orders, which Musk described as censorship. As a result, authorities blocked the social network in late August. Although the court has not yet ruled on restoring access to X, Musk’s Brazilian allies suggest that the social network might be restored in the coming days. The platform’s administration emphasized that access to X in Brazil is “essential for a thriving democracy.” They added that they respect the sovereignty of the countries in which they operate, stating, “We will continue to defend free speech and due process through legal means.”
Measures Taken by X and Current Status
In the course of the dispute, Judge Moraes ordered the freezing of the Brazilian accounts of Starlink, a satellite operator that, along with X, is owned by Musk. The businessman has also faced challenges with authorities in Australia and the UK over free speech issues. Brazil is X’s sixth-largest market, with 21.5 million users in the country. To circumvent the block, X initially used third-party cloud services but later abandoned this plan when Moraes threatened the company with substantial fines, reminds NIXsolutions.
Recent Developments and Next Steps
Late last week, X reached an out-of-court settlement by blocking nine accounts of individuals involved in investigations by Brazilian authorities and has since appointed a legal representative in the country. Despite these actions, sources from Reuters indicate that Musk has no intention of conceding. Once the platform returns to Brazil, he will likely defend his stance in the courts. We’ll keep you updated on further developments as this situation unfolds.