Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has decided to follow court orders in Brazil. This decision resumes its operations after facing a shutdown due to non-compliance.
The Brazilian Supreme Court had earlier mandated X to show documentation validating its new legal representative in the country. This is a necessity for foreign companies to run legally. This decision comes after a prolonged dispute.
The dispute was between Musk and a Brazilian judge about the platform’s handling of hate speech and misinformation.
In late August, X was banned in Brazil for failing to adhere to court orders aimed at moderating hate speech. Initially, the platform resisted compliance, labeling the orders as illegal.
Recently, recent developments show a shift in strategy, as X’s legal team has begun to handle the court’s demands. They have appointed a legal representative in Brazil. They have also expressed intentions to pay the fines imposed by the court. These fines amount to over $3 million.
The Supreme Court’s requirements also included blocking certain accounts linked to hate speech investigations. The specific accounts have not been disclosed due to the confidential nature of the probe.
X has indicated that it is taking steps to follow these directives. This compliance marks a significant change from the platform’s earlier stance of defiance against the court’s rulings.
X was briefly accessible to some users in Brazil despite the ban. This was due to a technical update that circumvented the court’s restrictions.
The ongoing situation highlights the complexities of operating a global social media platform within varying legal frameworks. This is particularly true about issues of free speech and content moderation.
