Brazil judge imposes new fine before lifting ban on platform X

Brazil's Supreme Court on Friday rejected lifting a ban on tech billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform X in the country.

Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered X be taken offline at the end of August, after the platform let a court-imposed deadline to appoint a legal representative pass. The company also refused to block the accounts of right-wing activists who spread conspiracy theories and misinformation.

On Thursday X said it had complied with the demands and asked that a ban on the service be lifted, local media reported. X had, as requested, appointed a legal representative and blocked the profiles of several users under investigation, the company said.

In addition, a fine of 18.35 million reais ($3.37 million) was collected from the bank accounts of Musk's companies X and Starlink.

However, de Moraes said that X would only be reactivated in Brazil if an additional fine of 10 million reais was paid.

The penalty was imposed because X did not respect the court-ordered shutdown for two days and some users in Brazil had access to the platform despite the nationwide ban.

The court's ruling also stated that both companies must give their consent to the transfer and withdraw all appeals. In addition, the company's appointed legal representative must pay a fine of 300,000 reais.

Musk, a prominent supporter of former US president Donald Trump in the US election campaign, portrays himself as a defender of free speech. He has accused de Moraes of attacking freedom of expression and called him an "evil dictator."