Brazil’s Supreme Court has lifted a ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, following its suspension in a high-profile dispute over disinformation. The platform was blocked at the end of August after failing to comply with court orders related to the spread of false information during Brazil’s 2022 election campaign and for neglecting to appoint a legal representative in the country as required by law.
Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes authorized the immediate reinstatement of X’s operations, issuing an order for Brazil’s communications regulator to restore access to the platform within 24 hours. In his ruling, Moraes noted that X had complied with the court’s demands, including the payment of approximately $5.2 million in fines, which had been imposed for the company’s failure to adhere to prior legal directives.
Musk, who has previously declared himself a “free speech absolutist,” has yet to publicly respond to the decision. However, X’s Global Affairs account released a statement expressing pride in returning to Brazil and reaffirming the company’s commitment to defending free speech “within the boundaries of the law” in all countries where it operates.
X’s suspension in Brazil came amid growing concerns about the platform’s role in the spread of disinformation, particularly during the country’s contentious 2022 presidential election. Moraes, who has been a vocal critic of disinformation, accused X of undermining Brazil’s democracy by allowing false information to flourish on the platform. His stance was echoed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who declared that the government would not be “intimidated by individuals, companies, or digital platforms that believe themselves to be above the law.”
The dispute between Musk and Brazilian authorities took a public turn when Musk labeled Moraes an “evil dictator” and compared him to “Voldemort,” the villain from the Harry Potter series. Despite Musk’s criticism, X eventually met all the requirements set by Moraes, including naming a legal representative in Brazil, to have the platform’s suspension lifted.
The Brazil case is one of several recent confrontations between Musk and governments worldwide, including in Australia and the United Kingdom, over the issue of online disinformation. With 22 million users in Brazil prior to the suspension, X is a major platform in the country, and its return marks the resolution of a significant legal battle between the company and the Brazilian government.
