Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is gearing up to request the restoration of its services in Brazil after weeks of being shut down, according to insiders. The platform has been offline since the end of August, following a court order from Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has been investigating what he calls “digital militias” spreading harmful messages across the country.
The feud between the billionaire and the Brazilian judiciary has escalated over the past months, resulting in X shutting down its offices in Brazil and terminating its local legal representation, a violation of national law. However, sources familiar with the situation suggest the platform may be back online by next week, pending the submission of necessary documents to the court confirming the appointment of a new legal representative in Brazil.
In an effort to meet the court’s demands, X has already started blocking accounts accused of spreading fake news and has paid an 18 million reais ($3 million) fine through Musk’s Starlink accounts. The company appears eager to mend fences and operate in Brazil without further disruptions.
Justice Moraes and X have been locked in a battle over content moderation, with the court accusing the platform of not doing enough to curb disinformation. Now, with the legal documentation on its way, X is hoping to smooth things over and restore its presence in one of South America’s largest markets.
No official comments have been made by either X or the Brazilian Supreme Court at this time.
