The Supreme Court of Brazil refused to allow Twitter (X) to resume operations due to an error in paying a fine. The social network was blocked in the country for failure to comply with moderation rules and lack of local representation.
Twitter conflict in Brazil
Blocking background
In August, Brazilian authorities suspended the functioning of Twitter and Starlink in the country. The reason was ignoring the requirements to control hostile speech and the absence of an official representative in Brazil. The Supreme Court also ordered Apple and Google to remove the Twitter app from stores within five days, imposing a fine of 50,000 reais (about $8,900) for using the service via a VPN.
Elon Musk's reaction
The owner of Twitter, Elon Musk, reacted sharply negatively to the court's decision, calling the judge "fake" and closing all the company's offices in Brazil. However, he later appeared to soften his position and tried to comply with the court's demands: some accounts were blocked, and the legal team attempted to pay the imposed fine of $5 million.
Error in paying the fine
According to Reuters, the attempt to pay the fine was unsuccessful due to for errors in the name of the receiving bank. Brazil's Supreme Court ordered Twitter to correct this error, after which company representatives will meet with the country's attorney general. The timing of the resumption of the social network in Brazil has not yet been determined.
Twitter problems after acquisition by Musk
Let us recall that in 2022, Elon Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion, beginning a large-scale transformation of the platform into a new service X with the declared “freedom of speech.” However, not all innovations were successful: some functions did not work correctly, and the launch of a new subscription system led to an influx of fake accounts and trolls. The billionaire's controversial statements also alienated major advertisers such as Apple and Disney, which Musk later accused of a deliberate boycott.
Financial consequences
All these events had a negative impact on the company's financial performance. According to Fidelity, the entity involved in the Twitter acquisition, the company's value has fallen 79% since Musk's purchase, falling from an initial $44 billion to $9.4 billion.
Glossary
- Twitter (X) - social network for short messaging, acquired by Elon Musk and renamed X
- Starlink is a satellite system providing access to the Internet, developed by SpaceX
- Elon Musk - entrepreneur , engineer and billionaire, founder of SpaceX and Tesla, owner of Twitter
- VPN - virtual private network, technology that allows you to create a secure network connection
- Fidelity is an American financial company that supported Elon Musk in purchasing Twitter
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How did Elon Musk react to the Twitter situation in Brazil?
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Discussion of the topic – Legal incident: Twitter paid Brazil's fine to the wrong bank and remains blocked
Brazil's Supreme Court refuses to unblock Twitter due to an error in payment of a fine. The social network remains unavailable in the country after being suspended in August for violating moderation rules and lacking local representation.
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Luca
Wow, what a Twitter drama in Brazil! 😱 I wonder how long this will go on? Musk doesn't seem to be very good at negotiating with authorities.
Sophie
Yes, Luca, the situation is really difficult. But I’m more surprised how it was possible to make a mistake with the bank when paying a fine of $5 million? 🤔 This is not some small thing. It looks like there is real chaos in Musk's team.
Hans
Sophie, I agree, it looks strange. But let's look at it from the other side - maybe it was a deliberate mistake to gain time? 🕒 Musk is known for his extraordinary moves.
Isabella
Guys, did you notice that the court gave Apple and Google only 5 days to remove the application? 😳 These are very strict measures! I wonder how this will affect Twitter users in Brazil?
Viktor
This whole Twitter thing is a complete circus. Musk bought it for crazy money and is now losing billions. And why did you start all this? It would be better to work on his rockets and electric cars.
Amelie
Viktor, don't be such a pessimist! 😄 At least Musk is trying to change something. Yes, not everything is perfect, but he is experimenting with new ideas. It's better than sitting idly by.
Carlos
Amelie is right, innovation always comes with risks. But I am concerned about the issue of freedom of speech. How to find a balance between moderation and censorship? 🤔 This is a difficult task for any social network.
Luca
Carlos, great question! Maybe we need new approaches to content moderation? For example, more transparent algorithms or community participation. What do you guys think? 🌐