According to Bloomberg and CNBC, X will only need to pay a final fine in Brazil to have its services resumed. Supreme Court R ordered the company to pay 10 million reais (approximately $1.9 million) for failing to comply with a Brazilian court order for two days. Moraes added that the company’s return “depends only on full compliance with Brazilian law and absolute compliance with court orders regarding national sovereignty.” Specifically, Moraes fined Company X on September 19 for restoring service in the country for some people despite the website’s ban. The judge also fined the company after X flouted the ban for a second time on September 23 through Starlink.
X owner Elon Musk previously resisted Moraes’ orders to delete and freeze several accounts on the platform that were said to have spread misinformation. Musk viewed this as censorship and chose to shut down his operations in the country instead of complying. In response, Moraes ordered internet providers in the country to block social media platforms and fine them 50,000 reais (approximately 8,900,000 yen) per day if they are found to be accessing X via VPN. It ordered the issuance of new regulations imposing fines. The court also froze the Brazilian bank accounts of SpaceX’s internet service provider Starlink. Ultimately, 18.35 million reais ($3.4 million) was withdrawn from Starlink and X’s accounts to settle an earlier fine imposed on the social network by the Supreme Court.
However, a few days ago, at Mr. Moraes’ request, Company X’s lawyers reportedly filed a document in court naming the company’s legal representative in Brazil. The website also removed accounts that the judge named in his initial directive and identified as threats to democracy, and now says it will comply with the court’s order. The New York Times reported at the time that X had not submitted all the necessary documents to have Brazil lift the embargo. Moraes’ statement that after paying this fine, the company can “immediately return to operations” suggests that X has resolved its issue, and Brazilian users will be able to access the website immediately. It might turn out like this.
