Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, apologized for the company’s “negligence” in responding to court demands.
According to a statement on the court’s website, an order barring the use of Telegram in Brazil was canceled on Sunday after the firm complied with court requests to block accounts that allegedly spread disinformation.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Court imposed the suspension on Friday, claiming that Telegram had consistently refused to comply with judicial demands to freeze accounts promoting fake news or to follow the country’s laws.
Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, apologized for the company’s “negligence” in responding to court demands.
As larger tech companies like Meta, which owns messaging app WhatsApp, Alphabet’s Google, and Twitter have complied with Supreme Court orders to remove offending accounts for allegedly spreading disinformation, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters have increasingly relied on Telegram as a means of mass communication.
Moraes had given Telegram until Sunday to comply with its demands, which included suspending the accounts of Allan dos Santos, a Bolsonaro supporter.
Moraes stated in the Supreme Court stated that Telegram had demonstrated “complete compliance.”
“I retract the decision to suspend Telegram’s operations in Brazil completely,” he continued.
According to the court filing, Telegram has designated Alan Campos Elias Thomaz as its legal agent in Brazil, fulfilling a major request.
In the latest round of the crusading justice’s battle with Bolsonaro and his allies, Moraes’ move stirred debate about freedom of speech in politically volatile Brazil.
The justice has led a series of Supreme Court investigations into Bolsonaro and his followers for spreading fake news, which has infuriated many on the right and prompted concerns about judicial overreach.
The suspension had been labeled “inadmissible” by Bolsonaro.
