Brazil’s Supreme Court has officially lifted the ban on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, marking a significant turn in the platform’s operations in the country.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes announced the decision, permitting the “immediate return” of X’s activities after the platform paid substantial fines and blocked accounts linked to misinformation.
As part of the resolution, X has reportedly paid fines amounting to 28 million reais (approximately $5.1 million) and has agreed to appoint a local representative, aligning with Brazilian regulations.
The platform, owned by Elon Musk, faced a temporary ban after it failed to delete multiple accounts considered by the government to spread misinformation regarding the 2022 presidential election in Brazil.
The National Telecommunications Agency has been directed to ensure that services resume for approximately 20 million users in Brazil within the next 24 hours.
Following months of inaction, Musk terminated the company’s Brazilian staff and closed its local office in late August. Musk, who identifies as a “free-speech absolutist”, has criticized the ban as an abuse of power and a restriction on free expression.
The prohibition led millions of users to seek alternatives, such as Bluesky, and resulted in a surge in demand for VPN services in the region.
In a statement, X expressed its enthusiasm about reestablishing its presence in Brazil, emphasizing its commitment to providing access to its platform for tens of millions of users throughout the process.
Justice Moraes had indicated that the platform undermined democracy by allowing accounts allegedly spreading disinformation to continue their activities. However, it appears that X has now fulfilled all required conditions for the ban to be lifted.
