Elon Musk’s X Returns to Brazil After Compliance with Supreme Court Orders

X Resumes Operations in Brazil

On October 8, Brazil restored Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) after the platform followed a Supreme Court order to ban far-right accounts. This came after nearly a month of suspension that began on August 30.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Court allowed X to resume its service, which serves an estimated 20-40 million users in the country. The battle involved issues of far-right accounts, misinformation, and free speech, with Musk initially resisting the judge’s orders, calling him “an authoritarian and a censor.” However, de Moraes’ decisions have consistently been upheld by his peers.

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Musk Follows Court Orders

Despite his earlier defiance, Musk’s X complied with the court’s demands. This included blocking certain accounts, paying outstanding fines, and appointing a legal representative in Brazil, which was necessary to lift the suspension.

In a court document, de Moraes emphasized that X’s return to Brazil depended on full compliance with local laws and respect for the judiciary’s decisions. X expressed its commitment, stating, “Giving tens of millions of Brazilians access to our indispensable platform was paramount throughout this entire process.”

Background of the Ban

Just two days before the ban, on August 28, X announced it was laying off its remaining staff in Brazil. Justice de Moraes had threatened to arrest X’s legal representative, Rachel de Oliveira Villa Nova Conceição, if the company didn’t comply with orders to block certain accounts. Brazilian law mandates that foreign companies must have a local legal representative to handle legal notifications and actions, especially regarding account removals.

Legal Representation Changes

Conceição, who was appointed as X’s legal representative in April, resigned after four months. She was reappointed on September 20. To protect her from potential legal issues, a new agreement states she must adhere to Brazilian law, and any legal actions must be approved in writing by X.

Conceição works for BR4Business, a business services firm, but its website provides little information about its operations. Reports indicate that the firm’s offices in São Paulo are empty, and staff work remotely. Neither Conceição nor BR4Business responded to multiple requests for comment.

Concerns About Local Engagement

Experts say using a minimal legal representation does not show a real commitment to engaging with Brazil. Fabio de Sa e Silva, a lawyer at the University of Oklahoma, noted that successful companies like Meta and Google have established offices and government relations teams in Brazil to interact with authorities and discuss regulations.

Carlos Affonso Souza, a director at a Rio-based think tank, echoed this concern, stating that X’s limited presence could pose challenges in meeting local demands without causing further conflicts.

User Migration and Market Impact

Some Brazilian users have shifted to other platforms like Meta’s Threads and Bluesky. Bluesky now reports 10.6 million users and is growing in Brazil. It remains uncertain how many users will return to X.

While Brazil’s ban on X is not unique, such extreme measures are usually seen in authoritarian regimes. Other countries like Russia, China, and Iran have also banned the platform. Brazil’s situation is reminiscent of a previous conflict between the Indian government and Twitter in 2021 over similar compliance issues.

Analysts believe Musk’s decision to comply in Brazil was practical, driven by the potential loss of access to millions of users and significant advertising revenue. Although X may not be a priority for many advertisers in Brazil, it needs them more than they need the platform.