Musk Backs Down In Brazil: X May Return After Complying With Court Orders

Topline

A block on X in Brazil may soon be rolled back after the company and social media app formerly known as Twitter complied with orders from the country’s supreme court, according to The New York Times, potentially bringing an end to a contentious battle between the court and Elon Musk, who repeatedly defied the orders in recent months over concerns X would be engaging in political censorship if it followed them.

Key Facts

X’s lawyers said in a Friday court filing cited by the Times that X complied with the orders asking the social network to remove accounts accused of engaging in disinformation, as well as demands from the Supreme Court regarding fines and the assignment of a new legal representative for X in Brazil.

The Brazilian Supreme Court confirmed the compliance in its own filing Saturday, though it noted X has yet to file the proper documents to move forward with its case and will have five days to do so, the Times reported.

André Zonaro Giacchetta, one of X’s new lawyers in Brazil, told the Times the conditions for X’s return in Brazil “have already been met, but it depends on the assessment of” the country’s supreme court.

Musk had publicly suggested X would continue its non-compliance with the court orders, claimed the judge behind the orders was taking part in political censorship and once characterized the requirements as “the most draconian demands of any country on Earth.”

X’s return to Brazil would also mark the return of millions of users to the platform, as analysts have estimated about 40 million Brazilians use X at least once a month, according to the Associated Press.

X did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment, while Musk and the social network’s global government affairs page, which have typically been vocal about the court orders, did not publish any comments or statements Saturday.

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Tangent

X came back online in Brazil earlier this week after the platform changed network providers, though the restoration was temporary, according to a tweet from X’s global government affairs page, which noted Wednesday it was working with Brazil’s government to get the platform back up and running. Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes fined X and Musk’s satellite company Starlink more than $920,000 for each day X operated in Brazil following the provider change, according to the BBC, which noted it is unclear if the court will demand payment because X promptly returned to its previous service provider.

Key Background

The decision to comply with the court orders is a 180-degree change from the stance Musk took in recent months as he refused to agree to the supreme court’s demands. Musk and X have openly criticized the Brazilian Supreme Court and Moraes since April, when the platform said it was asked to “block certain popular accounts” in Brazil without proper reason. The demands to block the accounts stemmed from an investigation into “digital militias” accused of spreading disinformation ahead of Brazil’s municipal election this October. Musk said X was specifically asked to remove accounts belonging to journalists and sitting members of Brazil’s parliament, while the platform’s global government affairs page posted sealed court orders and claimed they would impact “not just Brazilians but residents of the United States and Argentina.” Musk called out Moraes on multiple occasions throughout the row, calling for the judge’s resignation and likening his physical appearance to Voldemort, the main antagonist of “Harry Potter.” The conflict eventually spread to Musk’s satellite company Starlink, which had some of its bank accounts frozen in a move designed to prevent it from “conducting financial transactions” in Brazil. Starlink said in a tweet the order was “based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied unconstitutionally against X.”

Further Reading

Here's Why X Shutting Down In Brazil Spells Bad News For Elon Musk (Forbes)

Musk Escalates Attacks On Brazilian Judge As Starlink Finances Are Frozen And X Suspension Looms (Forbes)