X’s blunder, who transfers nearly 5 million euros to the wrong account

The social network .

In a brief document, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes wrote that “submitted a request (…) informing that the fines imposed on him had been paid in full”. Later, the magistrate did report a deposit of 28.6 million reais (approximately 4.8 million euros) made by X, i.e. the entire amount required. However, the sum having been paid into an account different from that indicated by the courts, Alexandre de Moraes ordered the beneficiary entity to “proceed with the immediate transfer” money in the correct account, according to a rendering of his decision.

On August 31, Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of the old Twitter to its approximately 22 million Brazilian users, accusing billionaire Elon Musk’s platform of not having respected legal decisions linked to the fight against disinformation. The platform became temporarily available again on September 18, due to a technical maneuver which made it possible to circumvent the blockage. X explained that this restoration of his service was an effect “involuntary” a change of server.

But Judge Moraes refuted this argument and imposed new fines on X. The next day, the social network once again became inaccessible in Brazil. Alexandre de Moraes, a magistrate as powerful as he is divisive in Brazil, has been engaged in a standoff with Elon Musk for months, after having ordered the deletion of accounts of supporters of the far-right former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro suspected of disinformation. The billionaire had shouted at the «censure» and charged the magistrate with “dictator”even comparing him to Voldemort, the villain of the Harry Potter saga.

Elon Musk has been more discreet on the subject in recent days and X has shown himself willing to meet the necessary requirements for the suspension to be lifted. The social network is committed to “protect freedom of expression within the limits of the law” and to respect “the sovereignty of countries” where it operates, in a message published recently on its account dedicated to relations with governments