The return of X to Brazil marks a shift in the balance between social media freedoms and regulatory compliance in the country. This development holds significance for tech companies, policymakers, and users concerned with the intersection of digital rights and regulatory authority.
In a highly anticipated move, X, formerly known as Twitter, returned to Brazil as their Supreme Court lifted its previous ban on this social media platform. X had been banned following a prolonged dispute with Brazilian authorities, particularly Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, over its refusal to block accounts that spread misinformation and violated Brazilian law. X’s initial non-compliance led to fines and the freezing of its Starlink accounts in the country.
The temporary suspension significantly impacted X’s user base, which includes an estimated 20 to 40 million Brazilians. It allowed rival platforms like Bluesky to acquire traction, adding millions of new users during X’s absence. Thus, Elon Musk resolved the dispute by complying with the court’s demands by paying a nearly $5 million fine and blocking the specified accounts. Moreover, X appointed a legal representative in Brazil, which is required by Brazilian law for foreign companies to operate in Brazil. This reflects X’s effort to balance freedom of speech with compliance with local laws.
“I think this is a victory for the court,” says Ivar Hartmann, an associate professor of law at the Insper Institute of Education and Research in São Paulo. “For the Supreme Court, it’s now easier in the future to block Starlink accounts if X misbehaves again.” Nevertheless, because many rural Brazilians use Starlink to receive the Internet, he believes that even if X did violate the court order again, Starlink would be somewhat insulated. In the end, the government is simply trying to make people’s lives easier.
Sources:
VOA News. “Alexandre de Moraes: Brazil Judge in Feud with Elon Musk.” VOA News, October 27, 2023, https://www.voanews.com/a/alexandre-de-moraes-brazil-judge-in-feud-with-elon-musk/7766449.html.
Newman, Lily Hay. “X Is Back in Brazil.” Wired, October 29, 2023, https://www.wired.com/story/x-is-back-in-brazil/.
