Elon Musk’s 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) is Back in Brazil after It’s Suspension.
Elon Musk’s social media platform, 𝕏, has been reinstated in Brazil following a temporary suspension ordered by the country’s Federal Supreme Court.
The ban was imposed after Musk’s refusal to adhere to judicial mandates to eliminate certain accounts and content considered harmful to Brazil’s democratic framework.“We’re thrilled to resume our services in Brazil,” the platform declared through its global government affairs account. “Ensuring that tens of millions of Brazilians maintain access to our crucial platform has always been our priority. We will continue to champion free expression while respecting legal boundaries in every country where we operate.”
𝕏 had been taken offline on August 31 after Minister Alexandre de Moraes from the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) ruled that the platform violated laws aimed at curbing hate speech, violence incitement, and political disinformation. Brazil also requires tech companies to have a local representative, a stipulation that Musk initially refused to comply with.
Pressure from investors and the looming threat of heavy financial penalties eventually led 𝕏 to comply with Brazilian regulations by late September. According to Correio Braziliense, concerns from investors were pivotal in prompting 𝕏 to resolve the situation, especially as both the platform and Musk’s Starlink service were at risk of having their business operations frozen in the country.
On Tuesday, August 8th, 2024, Brazil’s Supreme Court confirmed that 𝕏 had fulfilled the conditions required for its return. “The company has complied with the requirements set by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, and the platform is now available for use by Brazilians once again,” the court announced.
During 𝕏’s suspension, rival platforms such as Bluesky and Threads experienced a surge in Brazilian users.
As reported by G1 Globo news, access to 𝕏 was restored on Tuesday, marking the end of a tense standoff. 𝕏 is now back in operation in Brazil, but under more stringent legal oversight.
