The X platform, previously known as Twitter, mistakenly paid a $5.2 million fine to the wrong account in Brazil, adding to its ongoing conflict with the Brazilian government.
The fine was issued because X didn’t follow court orders to deactivate accounts connected to former President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters during the 2022 Brazilian general election. This resulted in a temporary ban on the platform in August 2024.
According to Judge Alexandre de Moraes from the Brazilian Supreme Court, X’s owner, Elon Musk, refused to follow the court orders, leading to the fine and the permanent closing of X’s offices in Brazil.
The disagreement between Musk and the Brazilian government started during the 2022 election and has been getting worse. The wrong payment is the most recent event in this ongoing situation.
The Brazilian Supreme Court has confirmed that the payment was made incorrectly and is trying to fix the problem.
