In a surprising turn of events, X (formerly known as Twitter) may return to Brazil. The company, which faced a countrywide ban, has now agreed to comply with Brazil's Supreme Court demands. According to the New York Times, X's legal team submitted a filing on Friday night confirming its compliance with the court's orders. This comes after a three-week standoff that banned the social media platform from the country.
X bows to court demands
X's lawyers revealed in their submission that the company has taken steps it initially vowed to avoid. They have removed specific accounts flagged by a Brazilian judge, who claimed these profiles threaten Brazil's democracy. This action goes against what Elon Musk, X's owner, had publicly stated regarding his commitment to preserving “free speech” in Brazil. Despite Musk's earlier resistance, the company has removed the accounts as ordered.
In addition, X has agreed to other conditions the Brazilian Supreme Court imposes. These include paying fines imposed for non-compliance and appointing a new official representative for the company in Brazil. These moves signal the company's intent to return to the Brazilian market, which it has been absent from since its ban.
A shift in X's legal strategy
Over the past three weeks, X has resisted the ban and continued sharing content from Brazil's far-right community members. This defiance led to the platform being blocked by local internet service providers (ISPs). X sought assistance from Cloudflare to bypass these restrictions, a service often used to maintain internet access in difficult situations.
However, the company's approach seemed to change earlier this week. On Thursday, X engaged new legal counsel in Brazil, a move signalling a potential strategy shift. By Friday, the company had submitted its formal compliance with the court's demands, a major step towards lifting the ban.
The Brazilian Supreme Court confirmed in a statement released on Saturday that X had shown interest in restoring its operations in the country. The court has given the company five days to provide official documentation proving it met the requirements.
Musk's stance on free speech in Brazil
This move by X is seen as a sharp contrast to Elon Musk's outspoken stance. Musk has made bold statements about protecting free speech globally and in Brazil. He positioned himself as a defender of open dialogue, even in the face of government opposition. His resistance to removing the flagged accounts was part of his commitment to this cause.
However, the decision to comply with the Brazilian court's demands could suggest that X prioritises its presence in the country over Musk's earlier promises. With the platform looking to re-enter the Brazilian market, the company's actions now reflect a willingness to follow legal frameworks, even when curbing certain content.
For Brazilian users who have been missing the platform, the return of X could be seen as a win. However, the compromise on free speech will likely raise questions about the balance between legal obligations and the platform's stated values.
