Elon Musk's X nears resolution with Brazil over content moderation
Elon Musk's social media platform, X, is close to wrapping up its dispute with Brazil's Supreme Court regarding content moderation. The platform has said it will follow the court's orders. However, a lingering fine of $5.2 million is still blocking full site access for users in Brazil. This penalty includes a recent $1.8 million fine slapped on the platform by the Brazilian court for just two days of ignoring a banning order.
The dispute's origin and Musk's resistance
The back-and-forth between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has been going on for quite some time. It all started when Musk decided not to take down accounts from X that de Moraes said were spreading misinformation in favor of former President Jair Bolsonaro. In response, de Moraes banned X from operating in Brazil, threatened to arrest its legal representative, and ordered the seizure of $3 million from frozen financial accounts associated with X and SpaceX's Starlink.
Legal experts weigh in on Musk's dispute with Brazil
Legal experts feel that paying up the outstanding fines could wrap up the legal tussle over court orders that Elon Musk has often called censorship. Sergio Botinha, an international business lawyer from Brazil, told Business Insider that de Moraes is "making a final demand on Elon Musk." He further explained that if Musk pays the fines and withdraws his appeals, de Moraes will lift the ban on X in Brazil.
X's compliance signals end of dispute
Greg Barnett, an American lawyer who helps US clients with business and legal matters in Brazil, thinks Musk's battle with de Moraes might be done. He pointed out that X has brought back the law firm they used before and removed the accounts that Moraes had ordered them to take down. According to Barnett, these moves show that X is ready to play ball to get back in Brazil's good graces.
