Starlink, Elon Musk’s internet service provider, has announced that it will comply with a Brazil Supreme Court order to shut down X, a recently banned social media platform owned by Musk. However, Starlink also stated that it will pursue “all legal avenues” to allow X to operate in Brazil, indicating its intention to challenge the ruling. This decision marks a reversal from Starlink’s previous stance, where it had stated that it would not comply with the order.
The order to block X was issued by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who required internet service providers and app stores to prevent access to the social media platform. Starlink’s compliance with the order is in response to de Moraes freezing the company’s accounts as a means to pressure them into covering fines imposed on X in Brazil. De Moraes argued that both Starlink and X are part of the same Musk-controlled group.
However, Starlink has criticized de Moraes’s decision, stating that it violated due process and the Brazilian constitution. The company believes that the order was issued without affording them the necessary legal procedures and plans to address the matter through legal means.
The decision to comply with the X ban comes after a spokesperson from Brazil’s telecommunications regulator revealed that Starlink had informally expressed its intention to defy the ban. Failure to comply with the order could result in sanctions, including the revocation of Starlink’s operating license in Brazil. Additionally, authorities could potentially seize equipment from Starlink’s 23 ground stations in the country.
This dispute between Brazilian officials and Musk is part of a broader conflict surrounding court orders to block accounts accused of spreading hate and misinformation. Musk and X’s global government affairs team have denounced these orders as unlawful censorship attempts. De Moraes’s order also imposes a daily penalty for users in Brazil who use a virtual private network to evade the ban.
De Moraes’s actions have drawn criticism from Musk, who has accused the justice of disrespecting Brazilian sovereignty and the judiciary. Musk shared a post by billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who likened de Moraes’s tactics to those seen in communist-ruled China. Ackman warned that these actions could make Brazil an “uninvestable” market. Musk agreed with Ackman’s assessment, calling the X ban “illegal.”
In conclusion, Starlink has announced its compliance with the Brazil Supreme Court order to shut down X while simultaneously expressing its intent to challenge the ruling through legal means. This development adds to the ongoing conflict between Brazilian officials and Musk, with both parties accusing each other of violating laws and sovereignty. The outcome of this dispute will have significant implications for the future of internet freedom and regulation in Brazil.
