Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Fines on X for Non-Compliance

In a significant legal development, the Brazilian Supreme Court has imposed a fine of 8.1 million Reais (approximately 1.35 million Euros) on the social media platform X, following its failure to comply with court orders regarding user data and account deactivation. This ruling marks a continuation of the ongoing legal battle between the platform and Brazilian authorities.

The court's decision, announced by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, stems from a case initiated in 2024, where X was ordered to delete a specific user profile accused of disseminating misinformation. In addition to the account deletion, X was mandated to submit the user's registration details to the court. However, the platform has not adhered to these legal requirements.

Initially, the court had set a daily penalty of 100,000 Reais for each day X failed to comply with the orders. Following the platform's continued non-compliance, the court has now directed X to pay the total fines promptly. As of now, X has not issued any statement regarding the court's latest ruling.

This case is not the first instance of legal scrutiny for X in Brazil. In 2024, the platform was temporarily suspended for approximately one month after it declined to address issues related to hate speech on its platform. The suspension was lifted only after X identified a local legal representative and paid a fine of about 4.7 million Euros.

The Brazilian judiciary's actions highlight ongoing tensions between social media platforms and regulatory authorities, particularly concerning the management of harmful content and user data. The case raises critical questions about the responsibilities of digital platforms in curbing misinformation and ensuring compliance with local laws.

In a previous instance involving the platform, Justice de Moraes had warned X's CEO, Elon Musk, about the potential seizure of frozen assets from both X and Musk's satellite internet company, Starlink, operating in Brazil. Musk's efforts to navigate legal challenges through Starlink have drawn considerable attention, as they reflect broader concerns regarding the accountability of tech giants in the face of regulatory frameworks.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how X will respond to the latest ruling and whether it will take steps to enhance compliance with Brazilian laws. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the platform's operations in Brazil and its relationship with regulators in other jurisdictions.