In a significant policy shift, Elon Musk’s platform, X, has informed Brazil’s Supreme Court that it has adhered to orders aimed at curbing the spread of misinformation and is requesting the lifting of a ban imposed on the service. This move marks a reversal after Musk publicly criticized the court’s actions as “censorship” during a protracted five-month dispute with Brazilian authorities. The Supreme Court had blocked access to the platform in late August, a decision that impacted one of X’s largest and most important markets.
Although the court has yet to announce its decision regarding X’s potential reinstatement, sources close to Musk in Brazil are optimistic that the platform could be operational again within days.
In a statement late Thursday, X emphasized the importance of its presence in Brazil, asserting that access to the platform is “essential for a thriving democracy.” The company’s global affairs team reiterated its commitment to respecting the sovereignty of the nations in which it operates, stating, “We will continue to defend freedom of expression and due process of law through legal processes.”
The ban was spearheaded by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has actively targeted perceived threats to democracy and the misuse of political disinformation. This legal clash escalated when Musk closed X’s offices in Brazil, prompting the court to act against the platform. The situation also adversely affected Starlink, Musk’s satellite Internet service, leading to its accounts being frozen by de Moraes, who Musk later denounced as a “dictator.”
Brazil is particularly crucial for X, ranking as its sixth-largest market worldwide with approximately 21.5 million users. Analysts suggest that Musk’s retreat from this confrontation was driven by fears of losing market share and an acknowledgment that the battle against Moraes was unwise, especially as public sentiment did not sway against the judge as he had anticipated.
In a final effort to bypass Moraes’ ban, X resorted to utilizing third-party cloud services to allow access to its platform. However, this strategy was short-lived as Moraes threatened significant penalties, leading to a change in tactics.
Last week, X adopted a more conciliatory stance by appointing a local legal representative, a demand from Moraes. In the correspondence sent to the Brazilian Supreme Court, the company stated that it had blocked nine accounts related to an investigation into hate speech and misinformation.
Rubens Barbosa, a former Brazilian ambassador to the United States, viewed Musk’s change of course positively, commenting, “Whether one agrees with it or not, the law is to be respected, not defied.”
According to insiders, Musk is expected to take a markedly different approach upon X’s return to Brazil. While he may maintain a combative stance, he is likely to seek compliance with local laws, signaling a shift towards legal battles rather than public confrontations. One source noted, “From now on, he will fight in the courts.”
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