In a significant shift, X Corp, owned by Elon Musk, informed Brazil’s Supreme Court that it has met requirements to halt the dissemination of misinformation and requested the removal of a ban affecting the platform, as revealed in a document reviewed by Reuters.
Musk had resisted compliance for over five months, labeling the restrictions as “censorship” amid ongoing tensions with a judge in one of X’s key international markets. The Supreme Court restricted access to the site for Brazilian users in late August.
A ruling from the court regarding the platform’s reinstatement is still awaited, but sources close to Musk in Brazil speculate that access could be restored within days.
On Thursday, X asserted that access to its platform in Brazil “is essential for a thriving democracy” and pledged to respect the sovereignty of the nations in which it operates.
In a statement from the company’s global affairs team via social media, it emphasized, “We will continue to defend freedom of expression and due process of law through legal processes.”
The ban was imposed by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has led efforts against perceived threats to democracy and the manipulation of political narratives through misinformation. This action followed Musk’s closure of X’s operations in Brazil.
The legal dispute also impacted Musk’s other venture, satellite internet provider Starlink, with de Moraes freezing its accounts, a move that prompted Musk to accuse him of acting like a “dictator.”
The tensions in Brazil are part of a broader series of confrontations between Musk—who positions himself as a defender of free speech—and various governments, including those of Australia and the UK, aiming to curb online misinformation.
Brazil ranks as X’s sixth-largest market globally, boasting approximately 21.5 million users.
Thiago de Aragao, a senior researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, observed, “Musk feared losing market share and realized this was an unnecessary confrontation. He expected Brazilians to side with him, but that has not been the case.”
In a bid to bypass de Moraes’ ban, X previously employed third-party cloud services, enabling access for Brazilian users; however, this was a short-lived tactic, especially after the judge warned of imposing substantial fines.
Last week, X adopted a more conciliatory posture by assigning a local legal representative as required by the court.
The document submitted to the Supreme Court indicated that the company had taken action to block nine accounts involved in a probe into hate speech and misinformation.
Rubens Barbosa, a former Brazilian ambassador to the United States, commented on Musk’s shift, stating, “His retreat is a very positive development. Regardless of opinions on the matter, the law must be respected, not challenged.”
Sources close to Musk suggest that he will adopt a different strategy once X is permitted to operate again in Brazil, indicating that while he may maintain a combative posture, he is likely to prioritize legal compliance. “He will now engage through the courts,” one insider stated.
X has yet to respond to requests for comment.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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