Brazil’s Supreme Court has authorized social media platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, to resume operations in the country. The decision came on Tuesday after the platform reversed its stance and agreed to comply with court mandates that Musk had previously resisted.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has been at odds with Musk for months, granted permission for X to restart service in Brazil with immediate effect. Moraes confirmed that X had met the necessary criteria to operate in the nation.
Musk, a vocal critic of the court orders, had initially denounced them as censorship and labeled Moraes a “dictator.” However, in recent weeks, X began taking steps to comply, including blocking accounts flagged by the court, appointing a local representative, and settling outstanding fines.
In his ruling, Moraes instructed Brazil’s telecommunications agency, Anatel, to facilitate X’s reinstatement within 24 hours. Despite the decision, users in Brazil reported being unable to access the platform as of 7 p.m. local time on Tuesday.
Following the court’s announcement, X’s Global Affairs account expressed pride in returning to Brazil, emphasizing the platform’s commitment to supporting free speech “within the boundaries of the law.”
This confrontation in Brazil is one of several recent disputes between Musk and various governments, including Australia and the United Kingdom, as they work to curb the spread of misinformation online. Musk, who champions free speech, has found himself in frequent conflict with regulators attempting to enforce stricter controls on digital content.
Related topics:
TSMC’s Third-Quarter Revenue Surges Past Expectations Amid AI Demand
U.S. Weighs Breakup of Google in Groundbreaking Antitrust Case
Match Group Appoints Steven Bailey as New CFO Amid Strategic Shift