Brazil’s Supreme Court lifted the ban on Elon Musk’s social network X. The platform had been barred for over a month in its largest Latin American market amid concerns over disinformation.
Judge de Moraes authorized the “immediate return of the platform’s activities” following X’s settlement of millions in fines for non-compliance with previous court orders. He mandated that Brazil’s communications regulator restore access to the platform, formerly known as Twitter, within 24 hours, impacting millions of Brazilian users.
Musk, known for his stance as a “free speech absolutist,” has yet to respond to lifting the ban. The standoff, originating from a flood of disinformation during Brazil’s 2022 election campaign, had drawn global attention, highlighting a clash between free expression and corporate accountability.
Musk had previously attacked Moraes in a heated reaction, labelling him an “evil dictator” and likening him to Voldemort, a character from the Harry Potter series. Conversely, Moraes accused X of facilitating the spread of disinformation and undermining democracy—a view supported by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who emphasized the state’s stance against being intimidated by entities that consider themselves above the law.
Ultimately, X complied with all of Moraes’s demands, leading to the reinstatement of the platform. Last week, it was confirmed that the company had also paid approximately $5.2 million in fines.
Before its suspension, X boasted 22 million users in Brazil. During the ban, many, including President Lula, had shifted to alternative platforms like Threads or Bluesky, though none matched X’s popularity.
The dispute between X and Moraes originated during the October 2022 elections, further intensifying after Bolsonaro supporters attacked federal buildings in Brasilia post-Lula’s January 2023 inauguration. The incidents drew parallels with the January 2021 U.S. Capitol riots by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
