X reinstated in Brazil after Musk pays fines, agrees to follow local laws

Brazil's Supreme Court is allowing Elon Musk's X to resume operations, apparently ending a months-long battle after the social network paid over $5 million in fines and reluctantly agreed to suspend accounts accused of spreading disinformation.

The court yesterday issued a press release announcing the reinstatement, saying that X has complied with all the orders it previously defied. Brazil Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered that the suspension be ended and that telecom agency Anatel take steps to allow the platform's return.

The dispute began in April, when X refused to suspend certain accounts belonging to supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. X, formerly Twitter, was banned in Brazil for over a month. Internet providers, including Musk's Starlink service, were ordered to block the social network.

In late August, X claimed the orders violate Brazil's own laws and said it would defy them even if it meant being shut down. "Unlike other social media and technology platforms, we will not comply in secret with illegal orders. To our users in Brazil and around the world, X remains committed to protecting your freedom of speech," the company said at the time.

X now accepts “boundaries of the law”

X also said that de Moraes targeted the platform "simply because we would not comply with his illegal orders to censor his political opponents." Now that it has suspended the accounts, X said it is still fighting for free speech "within the boundaries of the law."

"X is proud to return to Brazil," the company's Global Government Affairs account said yesterday. "Giving tens of millions of Brazilians access to our indispensable platform was paramount throughout this entire process. We will continue to defend freedom of speech, within the boundaries of the law, everywhere we operate."