Brazil has lifted its ban on X, allowing the platform to resume operations after a five-week hiatus. The decision, handed down by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, paves the way for X to reconnect with its millions of users in the country.
The development brings an end to a protracted dispute between X and the Brazilian authorities, which had been locked in a standoff over censorship demands. Moraes had ordered X to block certain accounts, a move the company vehemently opposed, characterizing it as an attempt to stifle free speech. The dispute also had a ripple effect on Starlink, X’s satellite internet subsidiary, which saw its Brazilian bank accounts frozen in response to the company’s initial refusal to comply.
However, X eventually relented, blocking the specified accounts and paying a substantial fine of nearly $5 million. The company’s decision to comply with the court’s demands has now been rewarded, with Moraes giving the green light for X to resume operations.
In a statement, X expressed its satisfaction at being able to restore its services to the Brazilian market. “We are proud to be back in Brazil, providing our essential platform to tens of millions of users,” the company said. “We will continue to champion freedom of expression, within the bounds of the law, in all the countries where we operate.”
The ban had an unintended consequence, however, as it provided a boost to rival platform Bluesky. Founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky reported a significant surge in new users, with over 2 million people signing up in the immediate aftermath of X’s ban.
