Elon Musk, the head of Tesla, has paid a fine set by a Brazilian court after being accused of spreading false information. However, there was a mix-up, and the social media platform X mistakenly transferred $5.2 million (about Rs. 43 crores) to the wrong bank account. Judge Alexandre de Moraes revealed that while X has paid the fine, it was sent to an incorrect account instead of the one specified by the court. The judge has ordered that the funds be transferred to the correct account immediately, but X remains banned in Brazil for now.

In Brazil, Judge Moraes had previously ordered the removal of several accounts on X that were spreading misinformation. As a result, access to X was temporarily halted in the country. Musk responded to the court’s actions by stating that freedom of speech is essential for democracy and criticized the judge for what he called political motives behind blocking accounts. He claimed this approach is unconstitutional and could lead to significant financial losses for X in Brazil.

Tensions have risen between Musk and Judge Moraes as Musk made controversial comments about the judge. The judge took these remarks seriously and included Musk in an investigation regarding misinformation on X. The court accused Musk of using X to support individuals spreading false information, leading to the hefty fine imposed on him.

Despite these challenges, Musk’s company is trying to comply with Brazilian regulations to lift the ban on X. The situation highlights ongoing debates about freedom of expression and responsibility in managing misinformation online. As developments unfold, both Musk and X will need to navigate these legal hurdles carefully to restore their operations in Brazil.