Starlink Agrees To Block X In Brazil After Initally Defying Court Order
Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, has agreed to block access to X—formerly Twitter— in Brazil.
This decision follows a legal order from Brazil’s top court, which resulted in Starlink’s assets being frozen when Musk initially resisted.
Court Orders Lead to Frozen Assets
Brazil’s Supreme Court, under Justice Alexandre de Moraes, ordered the shutdown of Elon Musk’s X in Brazil as part of his ongoing campaign to curb disinformation.
According to Bloomberg, when X failed to comply with previous orders and pay associated fines, the court extended its crackdown to Starlink, freezing its bank accounts and seizing assets, including vehicles, boats, and aircraft.
In response, Starlink initially signaled to Anatel, Brazil’s telecommunications regulator, that it would not comply with the blocking order. However, mounting legal and financial pressures forced a reversal.
“Regardless of the illegal treatment of Starlink in freezing our assets, we are complying with the order to block access to X in Brazil,” the company said on X.
Read: Brazil’s X Ban—Bluesky Sees Sign-Up Surge With 1M+ New Users
Escalating Tensions Over Disinformation
Musk’s conflict with Brazil’s top court stems from its increased scrutiny of tech platforms that fail to manage disinformation.
The situation has escalated as Brazilian authorities have reported a rise in cyberattacks, further intensifying the government’s stance on digital misinformation.
Despite Starlink’s initial resistance, the judicial actions against it have spotlighted the judiciary’s growing power in regulating tech companies operating in the country.
For now, Starlink has complied with the court’s demands, but the dispute raises questions about the future of Musk’s ventures in Brazil.
Image Credit: Jaque Silva | SOPA Images | Lightrocket
