In a decisive move, Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has slapped social media giant X, owned by Elon Musk, with a hefty fine of 8.1 million reais ($1.42 million) for repeatedly flouting judicial orders.
The penalty, revealed in a ruling made public on Thursday, stems from a legal dispute last year in which the court ordered X to remove a profile accused of spreading misinformation and to provide the user’s registration details.
X’s failure to comply led to a daily fine of 100,000 reais, and its local legal representative now faces the risk of criminal charges.
Moraes’ ruling highlights the platform’s continued disregard for the court’s orders and demands the immediate payment of the accumulated fine.
Legal representatives for X in Brazil have stayed silent on the matter, offering no comment.
This latest ruling adds to a series of legal battles X has faced in Brazil. Earlier in 2024, the platform was suspended for more than a month due to its failure to comply with court orders related to hate speech moderation and its neglect in appointing a local representative in the country.
The ruling sends a powerful message about Brazil’s tough stance on digital platforms, underscoring the nation’s commitment to holding tech giants accountable for their role in regulating misinformation and content moderation.
