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Brazil X ban: Elon Musk's platform will stay blocked
Brazil's Supreme Court upheld a decision to ban Elon Musk's platform X, formerly known as Twitter nationwide. Manhattan Institute Fellow Daniel Di Martino breaks down the latest with LiveNOW's Andrew Craft.
X, Elon Musk’s social media platform, has resumed operations in Brazil after a monthlong suspension. The platform was blocked on August 30, following a legal dispute between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over issues related to free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation.
Brazil is one of X’s largest markets, with estimates of its user base ranging from 20 to 40 million people. Despite initial resistance from Musk, the platform eventually complied with Brazilian law, leading to the restoration of its services on October 3.
Why was X banned in Brazil?
The conflict began when de Moraes ordered the shutdown of X due to its failure to meet key legal requirements. The platform had not blocked certain accounts flagged by the court for misinformation and far-right content. Additionally, X had not appointed a legal representative in Brazil, a requirement for foreign companies operating in the country.
Musk publicly criticized de Moraes, accusing him of being authoritarian, but ultimately, X had to comply with all legal demands, including paying outstanding fines, blocking specific accounts, and naming a new legal representative.
What did X do to resume service?
To restore operations, X met the following requirements:
- Appointing a legal representative: X reappointed Rachel de Oliveira Villa Nova Conceição as its legal representative in Brazil.
- Blocking flagged accounts: The platform agreed to comply with court orders to block specific accounts that had been flagged for spreading misinformation.
- Paying fines: X settled outstanding fines related to its noncompliance with Brazilian law.
In a statement, X emphasized its commitment to upholding free speech while operating within legal boundaries, stating, "We will continue to defend freedom of speech, within the boundaries of the law, everywhere we operate."
What’s next for X in Brazil?
While the platform has been restored, it faces challenges in regaining the trust of users and local authorities. Many Brazilian users migrated to other platforms like Meta’s Threads and Bluesky during the suspension. Bluesky reported a surge in new users, reaching 10.6 million globally, with strong growth in Brazil.
The Twitter (X) logo displays on a smartphone screen. (Photo by Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Experts suggest that X will need to carefully manage its operations in Brazil to avoid future legal issues. The platform’s minimal engagement with the country—operating only with a legal representative rather than a full office—may complicate its relationship with regulators and advertisers.
Will users return to X?
It remains to be seen whether Brazilian users will flock back to X now that it has resumed service. The platform’s monthlong absence led some users to explore alternatives, and its reputation may have taken a hit due to its initial resistance to complying with local laws.
However, X remains a significant player in Brazil’s social media landscape, and its return could see users gradually re-engaging with the platform.
The Source:
This article is based on a report from the Associated Press, detailing the legal dispute between X and the Brazilian Supreme Court, as well as expert analysis of the platform’s future in Brazil. Additional data on user migration to alternative platforms was provided by Bluesky. This story was reported from Los Angeles.