Brazil unblocks Platform X bank accounts

X-Sperre

The court asked Musk to block user accounts belonging to right-wing activists. The reason for the excitement is said to be a dispute between judge Alexandre de Moraes and entrepreneur Elon Musk.

While Moraes saw X as a platform for spreading false news, Musk invoked freedom of expression. Musk defied the court order and refused to block certain X accounts affected by the Brazilian court orders.

Supporters of Brazilian right-wing populist ex-President Jair Bolsonaro in particular used the platform regularly.

In response to the X-lockdown, tens of thousands of people demonstrated on the streets of Sao Paulo under the leadership of Bolsonaro. Both Bolsonaro and Musk took sharp shots at Judge Moraes, calling him a “dictator.”

Fines for non-compliance

The company subsequently accepted the conditions for lifting the X ban. Musk ordered the necessary X accounts to be blocked and appointed a legal representative for Brazil.

Nevertheless, the court refused to immediately lift the blockade. Judge Moraes previously imposed a fine for failing to comply with the court order – platform X was accessible in Brazil for a short time despite being blocked.

Musk refused to pay. It is now 28.6 million reales (around 4.8 million euros).

Starlink accounts suspended

Moraes ordered the freezing of Starlink accounts to collect the fine. The Supreme Court in Brazil rejected the appeal of the Musk-controlled satellite internet service Starlink.

Musk sharply criticized the procedure and described it as “absolutely illegal”. The Brazilian telecommunications regulator Anatel threatened Starlink with revoking its license for Brazil.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court announced the verdict unblocking the Starlink accounts. Now there is discussion as to whether paying the fine will also mean an end to the blockade of Platform X in Brazil.

The Supreme Court emphasizes that if Musk pays his fines immediately, Judge Moraes could lift the blocking of Platform X in the medium term.