After $5m payment Brazil lifts ban on Musk’s X

Brazil's Supreme Court has decided to lift the ban on the social media platform X, which was previously known as Twitter.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the platform's "immediate return" to operation in Brazil after it paid significant fines and blocked accounts accused of spreading false information. A statement revealed that X paid a total of 28 million reais (approximately $5.1 million or £3.8 million) in fines and agreed to appoint a local representative, a requirement under Brazilian law.

The initial ban was imposed by Moraes after X, owned by Elon Musk, failed to comply with demands to suspend accounts that allegedly spread misinformation about the 2022 Brazilian Presidential election. Following this, Anatel, Brazil's telecommunications regulatory agency, was tasked with ensuring that X's services would be restored for its 20 million users within 24 hours.

In the midst of the legal battle, Musk closed X's office in Brazil and dismissed the company’s Brazilian employees in late August, describing the decision as difficult. As the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk is known for his stance as a "free-speech absolutist" and criticized the blocking of accounts by Moraes as an overreach and a threat to free speech.

Following this, Moraes ordered a complete ban of the platform across Brazil, leading many users to switch to alternatives like Bluesky and significantly increasing the demand for VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) in the country.

However, in September, X shifted its stance and began adhering to the court’s directives. On Tuesday, the platform announced its return to Brazil, emphasizing its commitment to providing access for millions of Brazilian users.

With the ban now lifted, it seems that X has met all the conditions set by the court. Brazil is one of X's most significant markets globally and its largest in Latin America, boasting around 22 million users.