Elon Musk's social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), appears to be taking a step back from its clash with Brazil's Supreme Court, signaling a potential shift in strategy. According to a report by The New York Times, X's legal team has informed the court that they have complied with recent orders, including blocking specific accounts, settling fines, and appointing a formal representative in Brazil.
However, the Supreme Court responded by stating that X has not submitted the necessary documentation and has granted the company five days to rectify this oversight. This dispute traces back to an investigation led by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who initiated a crackdown on election misinformation. Despite X's initial agreement to comply, the company temporarily suspended its operations in Brazil, leading to further legal repercussions, including a ban on the service and potential fines for users attempting to circumvent the restrictions with VPNs.
After a brief hiatus, X resumed operations in Brazil earlier this week. Interestingly, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince said that the timing of X's recent transition to Cloudflare's infrastructure is purely coincidental. Meanwhile, during X's absence, Brazilian users explored alternative platforms, resulting in a surge in popularity for apps like Bluesky and Tumblr.
While X has not publicly commented on this latest development, the platform expressed its commitment to collaborating with the Brazilian government to ensure its swift return. This unfolding saga highlights the complex relationship between social media companies and regulatory bodies, as well as the evolving landscape of digital communication in Brazil.