Elon Musk Bows to Pressure in Brazil, Reopens X

 Elon Musk has decided to comply with Brazilian court orders to restore access to his social media platform, X, after a prolonged standoff with the country’s judiciary. This decision comes after Brazil’s Supreme Court had previously blocked users from accessing the platform until Musk adhered to their regulations.

“While we expect the platform to be inaccessible again in Brazil soon, we continue efforts to work with the Brazilian government to return very soon for the people of Brazil,” an X spokesperson stated.

The conflict began when Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the blocking of certain accounts on X, citing the spread of misinformation and threats against justices. Musk initially resisted, arguing that the court’s actions were unconstitutional and a violation of free speech. However, the pressure mounted as the court imposed hefty fines on Musk’s companies for non-compliance, reported The Washington Post.

“Everything that happened during the day led us to believe that it was on purpose,” said Basílio Rodriguez Pérez, advisor to ABRINT, Brazil’s leading trade group for Internet Service Providers.

The situation escalated when X briefly became accessible in Brazil due to a change in network providers, which the company described as an “inadvertent and temporary service restoration.” This led to further scrutiny and fines from the Brazilian judiciary.

In a statement, Musk expressed his frustration but acknowledged the need to comply with local laws. “We are committed to working with the Brazilian government to ensure that X can continue to serve the people of Brazil while respecting the country’s legal framework,” he said.