New York: Elon Musk’s social media platform X has appointed a legal representative in Brazil, according to the firm’s lawyers, in a strategic move to meet demands set by Brazil’s top court for continued operation in the country.
Andre Zonaro and Sergio Rosenthal, recently designated as X’s legal counsel in Brazil, announced that their colleague, Rachel de Oliveira Conceicao, has been chosen as the firm’s official legal representative. Her name has been submitted to the Supreme Court as part of the compliance process. Brazilian law mandates that foreign companies appoint a local legal representative to assume their legal responsibilities within the country.
X previously had a legal representative in Brazil until mid-August, when the company opted to close its offices there. Following this closure, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered mobile and internet service providers to block access to X after the platform failed to appoint a new legal representative. Users experienced service disruptions shortly thereafter.
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This latest development is part of a protracted dispute between Musk and Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes, centering on the platform’s alleged non-compliance with court orders aimed at addressing the spread of hate speech. The courts have previously taken action against accounts implicated in spreading misinformation and hate, which Musk has criticized as censorship.
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In a recent update, X’s legal representatives in Brazil indicated that the firm is beginning to comply with court orders regarding content removal, addressing another requirement set forth by the Supreme Court.
