Elon Musk’s X has retracted its prior protests against Brazil’s orders to restrict specific accounts. On Monday (April 15), lawyers for X told the Brazil Supreme Court that the social media company will follow any verdict made by the court or the country’s top electoral court.
In a letter to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, lawyers for the social media giant stated: “As already communicated to the federal police, X Brasil informs that all orders issued by this Supreme Court and the Superior Electoral Court will continue to be fully complied with by X Corp.”
The letter, seen by news agency Reuters, represents a significant shift in X’s (previously Twitter) stance. Just last week, the company’s Brazilian unit stated in a separate document handed to the justice that it had no control over the US-based company’s readiness to comply with the Brazilian court’s directives.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, also criticized the ruling to block specific accounts in the South American country. Musk has demanded that Moraes’ limits be reversed, calling them “unconstitutional.” He had also asked the justice to resign.
Musk challenged the Supreme Court justice’s order on X, claiming that the judge had “betrayed the constitution and the people of Brazil.”
Calling for Moraes’ resignation, Musk said, “This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached. Shame @Alexandre, shame.”
Musk’s refusal prompted a Brazilian judge to open an investigation into Musk on charges of obstruction of justice last Sunday (April 7).
“X shall refrain from disobeying any court order already issued, including performing any profile reactivation that has been blocked by this Supreme Court,” said Justice Moraes. Musk and X also faced a fine amounting to 100,000 reais ($19,740) per day, if they fail to block certain accounts.