Politics Brazil: Online service X transferred fine to wrong account

In the dispute over the blocking of the short message platform X in Brazil, tech billionaire Elon Musk's company has paid a fine in the millions - but to the wrong account. According to a statement from the Supreme Court (STF) on Friday evening (local time), the 28.6 million reais (4.77 million euros) ended up in an account at the Federal Savings Bank (Caixa Econômica Federal) and not at the Bank of Brazil. Federal judge Alexandre de Moraes had ordered the savings bank to transfer the sum to the correct account.

Moraes had ordered the closure of X in Latin America's largest country on August 30. The news platform had previously allowed a court-ordered deadline to appoint a legal representative to pass. The company also refused to block the accounts of right-wing activists who spread conspiracy narratives and false information.

Demands fulfilled

Following the transfer on Friday, X again applied for the block to be lifted. According to a statement from the Supreme Court, the company had proven on September 27 that it had appointed the legal representative for Brazil and blocked the profiles.

Musk had accused Moraes of attacking freedom of expression and called him an "evil dictator". The billionaire, who has been a prominent supporter of Republican former President Donald Trump in the US election campaign for some time, always presents himself as a defender of free speech. The federal judge had already opened an investigation against Musk himself in April for obstruction of justice and incitement to commit criminal offenses.