X Returns to Brazil: Twitter must pay a $1.9 million fine to resume operations

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Brazil's Supreme Court Allows X to Resume Operations with Conditions

Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, may soon resume its services in Brazil as Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled that X can "immediately resume its activities within Brazil," contingent upon paying an additional 10 million Brazilian reais, approximately 1.9 million US dollars. This fine is in addition to the 18.3 million reais, around 3.4 million US dollars, that the company had already been fined.

Brazil Imposes Sanctions on Twitter and Starlink

To enforce these fines, the Brazilian government froze the accounts of X and Elon Musk's satellite internet company, Starlink. According to the ruling, Starlink must withdraw its appeal against paying the fine for X to resume services in Brazil. X had refused to comply with Brazilian regulatory measures, actively blocking accounts accused of disseminating false information during elections.

Legal Dispute Over Election Misinformation

The legal standoff began earlier this year when a judge attempted to compel X to block accounts accused of spreading false information during Brazilian elections, leading to significant friction between the social media platform and the Brazilian government. Musk publicly criticized this move and even suggested that the judge "should resign or be impeached." Ultimately, X chose to halt its operations in Brazil and was officially banned by the end of August.

Twitter Changes Stance: Compliance with Fines and Local Laws

Recently, X seems to have changed its strategy, showing willingness to comply with the demands of the Brazilian government. The company agreed to block accounts flagged by the judge, pay the required fines, and appoint a legal representative within Brazil. However, despite X's willingness to cooperate, it was still fined 10 million reais for allegedly circumventing the imposed ban in September. Reports suggest that the restoration of services coincided with X switching to Cloudflare infrastructure.

X's global government affairs accountissued a statement on Thursday, stating, "We acknowledge and respect the sovereignty of the countries in which we operate." The company also emphasized that access for Brazilian users to its platform is "essential for the thriving of democracy," indicating its desire to mend relations with Brazilian authorities and users.