Brazil Lifts Ban on X
Brazil liftsLifts banBan on Musk's X after it pays $5m fine
The Facts
Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, is seeking to restore service in Brazil after paying large fines and blocking users accused of disseminating disinformation.Brazil's telecom regulator announced on Wednesday that internet providers could being restoring access to Elon Musk's social media X, formerly Twitter, as the platform was already back online to some users.
After the X paid fines totaling 28M reais ($5.1M) and agreed to appoint a local representative as per Brazilian law, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes approved the "immediate return" of X's operations in the country.This comes as Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes approved the "immediate return of X's activities in the country" on Tuesday after X paid some 28M reais ($5M) and named a local representative, as required by local law.
The Spin
Elon Musk and his social media platform eventually caved in to Brazil's demands and paid the fines, allowing users to go online again. The US First Amendment is not universal, and foreign governments are increasingly considering stricter regulations for online speech. Musk just learned that if he wants to do business abroad, he must abide by their rules.
The US First Amendment doesn't protect free speech abroad indeed, but the right to freedom of expression — including to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of borders, is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. X was censored for political reasons — and this is all but protecting democracy.
