Brazil's Supreme Court has lifted the ban on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, after the company complied with court orders. Justice Alexandre de Moraes authorised the "immediate return" of X’s operations in Brazil, following the platform's payment of 28 million reais ($5.1m; £3.8m) in fines and its agreement to block accounts accused of spreading misinformation.

In addition to the fines, X appointed a local representative, as required by Brazilian law. The platform, owned by Elon Musk, had previously been blocked for refusing to ban several accounts that the government said spread misinformation about the 2022 Brazilian presidential election.

Brazil’s telecoms regulator, Anatel, has been instructed to ensure the platform is fully restored within 24 hours for its more than 20 million users.

The suspension came after months of defiance by Musk, who had fired the company’s Brazilian staff in August and shut down its office. Musk, a self-proclaimed "free-speech absolutist", had criticised the court's actions as an abuse of power and a violation of free speech. However, after initially resisting, X began complying with the court’s orders in September.

In a statement, X said it was "proud to return to Brazil" and emphasised the importance of providing access to the platform for millions of Brazilians. Brazil remains a key market for X, with an estimated 22 million users, making it the largest in Latin America.