Brazil’s Supreme Court Orders X to Pay Fines

SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that social platform X must pay over $5 million in pending fines, including an additional fine, to resume its services in Brazil.

Court Ruling

Earlier this week, the Elon Musk-owned company stated it had complied with orders to stop misinformation and requested the lifting of its ban. However, Judge Alexandre de Moraes issued a ruling indicating that X must pay 18.3 million reais ($3.4 million) in previously mandated fines.

Resources and New Fine

The judge noted that the court could utilize funds already frozen from X and Starlink accounts, contingent on the satellite company’s withdrawal of its appeal against the funds’ blockage. Additionally, a new fine of 10 million reais ($1.8 million) was levied due to a brief period when X was accessible to some users in Brazil last week.

X, formerly Twitter, has not yet responded to the request for comment. Reports suggest the firm is likely to settle the fines but may contest the new 10 million reais sanction following the platform’s ban.

Background

X has faced a suspension since late August in Brazil, one of its largest markets, after failing to comply with orders to restrict hate speech and appoint a local legal representative. Musk previously criticized these orders as censorship, labeling Moraes as a “dictator.” However, he reversed his stance last week after X claimed compliance with court decisions by blocking accounts as ordered and naming a legal representative in Brazil.

($1 = 5.4341 reais)