A Brazilian judge has allowed the unblocking of US businessman Elon Musk’s social media platform X bank accounts in the country, following the company’s agreement to pay over $5 million in fines. This ruling on Tuesday came from Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The move heralds an end to the suspension of X in Brazil, which has been inaccessible since August 31 over a row about disinformation.

In Brazil, the most significant Latin American country, Justice Moraes’s judiciary ruled to shut down X. Musk had refused to remove several right-wing accounts accused of spreading disinformation. In addition, the court needed to appoint a new legal representative for this platform, which still needs to be done.

In his latest order, Moraes ordered Brazil’s central bank to unblock X’s accounts so that the company could receive transfers and immediately pay all sums imposed by fines. The ruling said X had informed the court it would pay its fines worth $5.2 million, effectively ending the standoff.

This controversy has taken on very public dimensions, with Moraes at its heart, headlining Brazil’s struggle to curb the rise of disinformation. The relatively untouchable corporate immunity raises questions about limits to free speech and corporate accountability, particularly in South America’s largest and most populous country.

The app had already gained more than 22 million users in Brazil before its ban, which was set to be effective on August 31. The company has followed the court’s demands to resume operations for the past week.

Indeed, Musk is acquainted with social media controversy. Most famously, he has publicized posts slaying Justice Moraes as an “evil dictator.” In some posts, he even compares Justice Moraes to the main “Harry Potter” antagonist, “Voldemort.”

This case represents an essential milestone in the long debate about freedom of expression versus social media’s responsibility to control harmful content. In this respect, the case law outcome imposes upon X, the technical giant, the challenges its global operations confront to find a balance between regulatory compliance. 

As X prepares to resume services to Brazilian users, the ongoing case raises numerous questions concerning the nature of social media companies’ responsibilities and the limits of an acceptable off-setting measure for regulatory compliance.

That settlement would enable X to regain its footing in Brazil, where it is a significant actor in political and social narratives. The case also demonstrates the growing role that national governments assume in regulating tech platforms and the accompanying international implications for corporate governance. How Musk and his social media entity will face the future regulatory maze in Brazil and elsewhere will be an exciting exercise in tension management.