Brazil’s Supreme Court has lifted a six-week ban on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The platform was blocked in Brazil on August 30 after it refused to comply with government orders to remove accounts spreading misinformation about the 2022 presidential election. The country’s more than 200 million people, with an estimated 20 to 40 million X users, lost access.
This decision followed a dispute between X owner Elon Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Musk had accused de Moraes of being authoritarian, but X eventually complied with the court’s demands. These included blocking the accounts in question, paying fines, and appointing a legal representative in Brazil.
Despite Musk’s criticism of the ruling, X stated that it is “proud to return to Brazil” and committed to operating within the bounds of local laws. De Moraes emphasized that X’s return depended on its full compliance with Brazilian laws.
Brazil requires foreign companies to have a local representative to handle court notifications and take necessary action. X’s legal representative, Rachel de Oliveira Villa Nova Conceição, was reappointed to the role on September 20 after resigning earlier.
Meanwhile, some Brazilian users have switched to platforms like Threads and Bluesky, with Bluesky reporting significant user growth. How X manages its operations and relationship with Brazilian authorities in the future remains uncertain. This situation has raised concerns about X’s long-term strategy in Brazil.