Elon Musk's social media X asked Brazil's Supreme Court to lift the suspension imposed on its services. The appeal comes after the platform followed through with an order issued by the court that was aimed at curbing misinformation.
This is a sharp U-turn that has occurred in five months since Musk resisted what he called "censorship" after a long-running battle with Brazilian officials.
In an attempt to avoid the blockade, X had resorted to third-party cloud services that allowed Brazilians to reach the platform. This did not last long, however, as de Moraes warned the company of heavy fines.
Recently, X resumed conciliation efforts after accepting the appointment of a local legal representative as the Supreme Court ordered. During submission to the Supreme Court, it was reported that nine accounts targeted under hate speech and misinformation were blocked.
One of the key figures in the face-off was Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who issued the order for a ban after Musk closed down X's offices in Brazil. The judicial legal battle also inconvenienced Musk's satellite Internet company, Starlink. Its accounts were frozen following the ban.
A ban was enacted late in August that blocked access to X in Brazil, which is the company's largest consumer market. The court will decide if it will reinstate X, and a new verdict is expected to come within the next few days. Read more
In a recent statement issued by X, the company talked about the importance of democracy and demonstrated that it would respect the sovereignty of countries where it operates. Its international affairs department also reaffirmed its commitment to defending freedom of speech and following legal procedure.
Brazil is merely one battle, Elon Musk has had to deal with various governments worldwide, from Australia to the UK, over issues related to circulating online misinformation.
Senior researcher Thiago de Aragao of the Center for Strategic and International Studies commented on the ban, "Musk was afraid of losing market share and realized it was a battle that could not be won."
Former Brazilian ambassador to the United States, Rubens Barbosa, said over Musk's turnaround, "This is very positive. Apart from personal opinions, the law must be respected."
Once X returns to Brazil, an adjustment in approach is expected. According to sources close to Musk, Musk will likely remain combative but would be better prepared to comply from now on with local laws. "From now on, he will fight in the courts," one insider said.
As things develop, all eyes will be glued on the Brazilian Supreme Court for a decision that is likely to create a new landscape for social media within that country.