The Battle Continues: Brazilian Supreme Court Sets New Conditions for Elon Musk’s X to Return
SAO PAULO — In a dramatic turn of events, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has laid down fresh conditions for the reinstatement of Elon Musk’s controversial social media platform X in the country. This development comes hot on the heels of X’s claim that it had met all of the court’s requirements, including the appointment of a legal representative.
Starlink Standoff: The Stakes Are High
De Moraes has decreed that X can only make a comeback in Brazil once Starlink, Musk’s satellite-based internet service provider, drops its appeals tied to the case. X has been in the crosshairs of the Brazilian judiciary for almost a month now, following a clash between Musk and de Moraes on issues ranging from free speech to far-right accounts and the dissemination of misinformation.
Legal Maneuvers and Financial Penalties
Earlier this month, de Moraes ordered that Starlink’s assets be utilized to cover X’s mounting fines, which have now surpassed $3 million. He defended this move by arguing that the two entities are part of the same economic entity, a rationale that has been met with skepticism by some legal experts.
Additionally, de Moraes slapped X with a fresh fine of 10 million Brazilian reais ($1.84 million) and lambasted the platform for temporarily rerouting users through a third-party service, Cloudflare, leading to a brief resumption of operations in Brazil. X clarified that this was done to service Latin American clients and not to circumvent the suspension.
Legal Representation and Continued Conflict
De Moraes has begrudgingly accepted the appointment of X’s new legal representative but levied a fine of 300,000 reais ($55,000) for failing to adhere to earlier directives issued in August. The absence of a legal representative was the initial trigger for de Moraes’ decision to halt X on August 30.
The feud between X and de Moraes originated earlier this year when the platform came under fire for hosting far-right content and spreading misinformation. Musk and his allies have decried the Brazilian justice system for censorship, with Musk going as far as labeling de Moraes as authoritarian. Despite the backlash, the judge’s rulings have been consistently upheld, culminating in the nationwide suspension of X.
A Rollercoaster Ride: X’s Reversals and Revisions
On August 28, X made headlines by announcing the departure of its remaining staff in Brazil, citing concerns for the safety of its legal representative who had received threats of arrest. However, in a surprising turn of events, the company made a U-turn in recent days and on Thursday, submitted documentation to the court asserting compliance with all of the judge’s orders in a bid to relaunch operations in Brazil.
Defending Free Speech and Due Process
In a statement, X reiterated its commitment to upholding free speech within legal boundaries and respecting the sovereignty of the countries where it operates. The company emphasized the importance of Brazilians having access to X for a robust democracy and pledged to continue safeguarding freedom of expression and due process through legal channels.
