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• X  is set to present a legal representative to the Brazilian Supreme Court following a suspension order over hate speech concerns.
• Despite the ban, X became accessible to many users in Brazil due to a network update, which the court warned could result in a daily fine.
• X's lawyers referred to the event as a "technical flaw" and confirmed the firm has started to comply with orders on removing content.
• This dispute highlights the challenges social media platforms face in balancing freedom of speech with the need to prevent the spread of hate speech and misinformation.

In a recent development, Elon Musk's social media platform, X is set to present a legal representative to the Brazilian Supreme Court. This move comes as a response to the court's ruling that sought to suspend  X's operations in the country over concerns about the spread of hate speech. The legal representative is expected to be named very soon, according to the company's lawyers, Andre Zonaro and Sergio Rosenthal.

This move is seen as the most significant step taken by Twitter to comply with the demands of Brazil's Supreme Court. The court had issued an order in late August, suspending the social media platform's operations. The suspension was a result of a months-long dispute between Musk and Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Following the court's order, Brazil's mobile and internet service providers were instructed to block the platform, effectively cutting off users within hours.

Despite the ban, X managed to become accessible to many users in Brazil on Wednesday. This was due to an update to its communications network that bypassed the court-ordered block.

X's Response and the Supreme Court's Reaction

However, the Supreme Court was quick to respond, ordering  X not to circumvent its ruling. The court warned that the platform was at risk of a daily fine of 5 million reais ($921,726.95) if it failed to comply. Justice Moraes, in his latest order, expressed his concern over X's actions. He stated, There is no doubt that X, under Elon Musk's direct command, again intends to disrespect Brazil's Judiciary. He further accused the platform of having a strategy to circumvent the ban.

X, on the other hand, explained that the switch in network providers had resulted in an inadvertent and temporary service restoration in Brazil. The company added that it is maintaining efforts to work with the Brazilian government to resume service there very soon. The lawyers representing X in Brazil referred to the event as a technical flaw that allowed users to access the social media platform in the country.

X's Previous Legal Challenges and Compliance

This incident is not the first time that X has faced legal challenges in Brazil. Courts have previously blocked accounts implicated in probes of allegedly spreading misinformation and hate, which Musk has denounced as censorship. The courts have also ordered X to name a local legal representative as required by Brazilian law, after the firm closed its offices in Brazil in mid-August.

The lawyers representing  X in Brazil have confirmed that the firm has started to comply with the orders on removing content. This move is seen as a significant step towards resolving the ongoing dispute between X and the Brazilian government.

This incident is reminiscent of similar events in the past where social media platforms have faced legal challenges due to their content. For instance, in 2012, X was forced to block neo-Nazi tweets in Germany following a request from the German government. This was the first time that  X had applied its policy of blocking content at the request of a government.