Minister Alexandre de Moraes, from the (STF), ordered this Tuesday (8) the unblocking of the social network X after 39 days of suspension of the platform.
The magistrate ordered the decision to be communicated to internet providers. Moraes gave the agency 24 hours to “adopt the necessary measures to implement the measure”.
Consulted by CNNthe platform’s lawyers said they were aware of the decision.
According to Moraes, “all the necessary requirements for the immediate return of the activities of X BRASIL INTERNET LTDA. in national territory were documented and certified by the Judiciary Secretariat”.
“In view of the above, I decree the end of the suspension and authorize the immediate return of the activities of X Brasil Internet Ltda. in national territory and I order Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency) to adopt the necessary measures to implement the measure, informing this Supreme Court within 24 (twenty-four) hours”, wrote the minister.
The was given after the platform complied with all STF orders. A in fines to return to operating in the country.
39 days later
The order to suspend X in Brazil was . The First Panel of the STF unanimously confirmed the decision at the beginning of September.
After failing to comply with Court decisions and withdrawing its legal representation in the country, X began to change its stance in relation to Brazilian Justice.
On October 1, the company announced that it would pay all fines imposed by the Supreme Court. To do this, he asked for his bank accounts to be unblocked by the Central Bank.
Paying the amounts was a condition determined by Moraes for the platform to be unblocked in the country.
Previously, X had already represented the company in Brazil and complied with STF decisions to block nine profiles on the platform.
Fines
The sum of R$28.6 million involves new fines determined last week and a previous one, the values of which are already blocked. The amount is divided like this:
- R$ 10 million (the amount represents two days in which the social network was available to users in Brazil, disregarding the suspension order);
- R$ 18.3 million (the amount refers to fines for failing to comply with profile blocking decisions);
- R$ 300 thousand (amount imposed as a fine on the company’s legal representative, Rachel de Oliveira, who had been punished in August, along with the platform, for non-compliance with blocking orders).
The amount of R$18.3 million was blocked from the accounts of X and Starlink, a satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk, who also owns X.
This amount is in a Union account, as a guarantee of payment.
Once the company has paid the full amount of the fines, the blocked amount must be released back to the companies.
Conditions for returning
When he ordered X to be suspended on August 30, Moraes established conditions for the platform to return to operation. They are:
- comply with STF decisions to suspend nine profiles on the platform;
- appoint a legal representative in Brazil, with due proof from public bodies;
- pay all fines due for non-compliance with decisions.
The social network was suspended in Brazil after repeatedly failing to comply with STF decisions to block profiles on the platform.
There were nine accounts in question, which were being used to publicize attacks on institutions, threats to Federal Police (PF) delegates and content considered anti-democratic.
Among the users of these accounts are senator Marcos do Val (Podemos-ES), digital influencer Ed Raposo and the daughter of influencer Oswaldo Eustáquio.
As a way to avoid punishment for not complying with the account blocking order, the company announced the closure of its representation in Brazil. A decision by Moraes had established the arrest of the company representative if disobedience to orders continued.
The company was ordered by the STF to formalize its representative, through publication on the Court’s profile on X itself. If it did not indicate a name, the consequence was suspension of the social network.
As there was no response, Moraes ordered the immediate blocking of X.
In the decision, the judge said that there were “necessary legal requirements” for the measure. The minister cited the “reiterated, conscious and voluntary non-compliance with court orders and non-compliance with the daily fines applied, in addition to the attempt not to submit to the Brazilian legal system and Judiciary, to establish an environment of total impunity and a “lawless land” in Brazilian social networks, including during the 2024 municipal elections”.
Moraes also stated that the network continued to be instrumentalized “through the actions of extremist groups and digital militias on social media, with massive dissemination of Nazi, racist, fascist, hateful and anti-democratic speeches, including in the period leading up to the 2024 municipal elections ”.
