Brazil unblocks X after Fine Payment!
Brasilia, Oct 8 (EFE).-
Brazil’s Supreme Court on Tuesday authorized the “immediate” unblocking of the social network X after the platform paid a 28.6 million reais (5.2 million dollars) fine and agreed to comply with court rulings.
The judge in charge of the case, Alexandre de Moraes, asked the National Telecommunications Agency to take the necessary measures to restore X’s service, suspended since 31 August.
De Moraes stressed that the unblocking was “conditional” on the platform’s “full compliance” with Brazilian law and the “absolute respect” of court rulings on the removal of profiles accused of spreading false news.
Shortly before the judge’s announcement, the Attorney General’s Office approved the reinstatement of X, owned by South African tycoon Elon Musk, saying it saw no “pending issues” that would prevent the platform’s return.
X was blocked by order of Judge Alexandre de Moraes as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the spread of fake news and hate crimes online.
Musk refused for weeks to comply with orders to remove the profiles and, after receiving an ultimatum from De Moraes, announced that he was closing X’s office in Brazil and waiving legal representation in the country despite the requirements of Brazilian law.
He also accused De Moraes of being a “dictator in robes” who threatened freedom of expression and echoed calls by former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro to impeach the judge.
In late September, however, the tycoon backed down from his provocations, reappointing legal representatives in the country and agreeing to comply with court orders to remove the profiles.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also called on Musk to comply with court rulings if he wanted his companies to continue operating in the country. EFE
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