Is the Feud Between X and Brazil Finally Over?
After a long legal battle and months of suspension, social media platform X is back in action in Brazil.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized its return on October 8, giving the platform 24 hours to resume operations. X had been banned since August 30 for not complying with orders related to a misinformation probe.
Justice Moraes instructed Anatel, Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency, to take immediate steps to restore the platform and report back to the Supreme Court. This decision follows an unusual series of events involving a fine payment.
Initially imposed due to irregularities, the fine was mistakenly deposited into the wrong account on October 4. It was only on October 7 that the funds—paid by Musk’s other venture, Starlink—were correctly transferred.
Facing mounting legal pressure and the risk of being permanently banned, X has taken swift action. It recently appointed a new legal representative in the country and began suspending accounts accused of spreading fake news about Brazil’s elections and judicial system.
This comes as Moraes’s investigation, which started in 2023, continues to scrutinize the platform’s role in spreading misinformation. Elon Musk himself faces charges of obstructing justice, criminal involvement, and incitement.
The controversy traces back to Brazil’s recent presidential election. In January 2023, former President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed government buildings in an attempted coup, echoing the chaos of January 6 in the United States. The Brazilian Supreme Court, alongside Moraes, holds Bolsonaro responsible, citing misinformation as a major trigger for the unrest.
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In August, after Brazil threatened suspension, X announced it was halting operations in the country while keeping the service available to users. This escalated the dispute, and within days, the platform was completely banned. Musk hasn’t held back, accusing Moraes of political censorship and branding him as a dictator.
