Brazil's Supreme Court has put the brakes on social media platform X's request to resume services in the country, citing issues with fine payments. The court announced on Friday that X's lawyers did not pay the required fines to the correct bank, leaving the platform's future in Brazil uncertain. Since late August, Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) has faced suspension in Brazil, one of its most significant markets, due to its failure to comply with court orders related to hate speech moderation and the absence of a designated legal representative in the country.
Despite X's legal team asserting that they had made the payments correctly, the Supreme Court has indicated otherwise. Justice Alexandre de Moraes emphasised that the payment must be redirected to the appropriate bank. He also noted that Brazil's prosecutor general would need to review X's recent requests once the payment issue is resolved. This review is part of the process to ensure that X meets all legal requirements before being allowed to operate in Brazil again.
Earlier on Friday, X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, filed a new request to restore its services, claiming it had settled all outstanding fines. However, the court remains firm on its stance, requiring confirmation of the payment's proper handling. The company had already faced scrutiny for not following previous court orders, including blocking accounts linked to ongoing investigations.
X's lawyers expressed frustration over the court's decision, denying that the fines were sent to the wrong account. They argue that consultation with the prosecutor general should not be necessary before the ban is lifted. As of now, X has reportedly paid around 28.6 million reais (approximately $5.24 million) in fines, according to Reuters. The situation remains tense as both parties await further developments on X's potential return to the Brazilian market.