Brazil’s Supreme Court Lifts Ban on X After Fine Payment

Brazil’s Supreme Court has lifted the ban on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) after the company complied with legal requirements and paid fines.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorized the platform’s immediate return, following the payment of 28 million reais ($5.1m; £3.8m) in penalties and the appointment of a local representative.

The ban was initially imposed due to X’s refusal to block profiles spreading misinformation about the 2022 Brazilian Presidential election.

Anatel, Brazil’s telecoms regulator, has been tasked with restoring service for over 20 million users within 24 hours.

Also Read: Brazil Court Orders X to Pay $5M Before Service Resumption

X, owned by Elon Musk, faced months of defiance, including the closure of its Brazilian office and the dismissal of local staff. Musk criticized the initial blocking of accounts as an abuse of power. Despite this, the platform began complying with the court’s orders in September, resulting in the restoration of its services.

On Tuesday, X expressed satisfaction in returning to Brazil, stating that maintaining access for millions of users was a priority.

Brazil remains one of the largest markets for the platform globally and its top market in Latin America, with an estimated 22 million users.

BBC/Chidimma Gold