Brazil's Supreme Court has said it is lifting a ban on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
In his decision, Justice Alexandre de Moraes said that he authorised the "immediate return" of X's activities in the country after it paid hefty fines and blocked accounts accused of spreading misinformation.
According to a statement, the site has paid fines totalling 28 million reais ($5.1m; £3.8m) and agreed to appoint a local representative, as required by Brazilian law.
Moraes had blocked access to the platform, owned by Elon Musk, after it had refused to ban several profiles deemed by the government to be spreading misinformation about the 2022 Brazilian Presidential election.
Anatel, Brazil's telecoms watchdog, has been instructed to ensure service has resumed for more than 20 million users in the country within 24 hours.
After months of defying the court’s orders, Musk fired the company’s Brazilian staff in late August and closed X's office in Brazil.
"The decision to close X offices in Brazil was difficult," Musk, who also runs electric carmaker Tesla and rocket company SpaceX, wrote at the time.
A self-declared "free-speech absolutist", the billionaire entrepreneur had described Justice Moraes’ move to ban several dozen accounts as an abuse of power and a violation of free speech.
Several days later, Justice Moraes ordered for the entire platform to be blocked across the country.
Many users switched to alternative sites such as Bluesky, and demand for VPNs (Virtual Proxy Networks) in Brazil soared.
But in September, the platform began to comply with the court's orders in an apparent U-turn.
On Tuesday, X said that it was "proud to return to Brazil".
"Giving tens of millions of Brazilians access to our indispensable platform was paramount throughout this entire process," its government affairs team wrote in a statement.
It appears that X has now complied with all of the judge’s demands in order to have the ban lifted.
Brazil is one of the biggest markets for the platform across the globe, as well as its largest in Latin America, with an estimated 22 million users.
Latest Stories
-
AFCON 2025Q: Kurt Okraku goes beserk on Black Stars players ahead of Sudan clash
3 mins -
Ghana-Naija food festival lights up Accra with culinary delights, music and culture
24 mins -
CPP flagbearer blames NPP and NDC for Ghana’s economic struggles
32 mins -
Today’s front pages: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
41 mins -
PwDs in Bono Region hopeful in NPP’s ‘public recruitment policy’
1 hour -
Assin South roads to see massive transformation under DRIP – Ntim Fordjour
1 hour -
Galamsey: PUWU-TUC backs organised labour in nationwide strike
1 hour -
Galamsey: GAWU directs members to join Organised Labour strike on Thursday
1 hour -
Ghana Armed Forces collaborate with small-scale miners to fight galamsey
2 hours -
Driver flees scene after fatal hit and run on Kanda Highway
2 hours -
Former Liverpool boss Klopp takes Red Bull role
2 hours -
AFCON 2025Q: Abu Francis and Jonas Adjei Adjetey join Black Stars camp
2 hours -
Digital Youth Hub to be replicated at KNUST, UCC, and UDS – Bawumia
2 hours -
Small-scale miners to challenge Organised Labour strike with protest
2 hours -
Konongo faces dumsor as galamseyers invade GRIDCo site
2 hours