Elon Musk's satellite internet service Starlink has announced that it will block access to Musk's social media platform X in Brazil, following an order from Brazil's Supreme Court.
The Hill Reports Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has announced its intention to block access to Musk's own social media platform, X, in Brazil. The decision follows a recent order from Brazil's Supreme Court, citing Musk's ongoing feud with Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The conflict between Musk and de Moraes has been escalating for months, culminating earlier this month when X closed its Brazilian offices after a judge ordered the platform to remove certain posts. Failure to comply could result in fines of $3,650 per day and an arrest order for X's representative in Brazil, Rachel Nova Conceição.
Last week, Judge De Moraes threatened to shut down X completely in Brazil, prompting Musk to hit back, calling the judge an “evil dictator dressed as a judge.” In response, Judge De Moraes ordered the immediate suspension of X and directed internet service providers and app stores to block the platform within five days. The order also imposed fines of around $9,000 per day on anyone who uses a virtual private network (VPN) or other methods to access X.
Starlink, caught in the middle of the dispute, initially tried to fight the “illegal” order to freeze its financial transactions, but faced with the threat of sanctions from Brazil's telecoms regulator Anatel, the company ultimately decided to comply with the court's ruling.
In a statement about X, Starlink wrote, “Despite Starlink's unlawful treatment of our assets, we will comply with the order blocking access to X in Brazil. Like others who agree that @alexandre's recent order violates the Brazilian Constitution, we will continue to pursue all legal options.”
The decision to block X has sparked mixed reactions, with some legal experts questioning the rationale and enforcement of the court's decision, while others suggest it could be an authoritarian move. The Brazilian Bar Association announced its intention to ask the Supreme Court to review the fines imposed on citizens who accessed X without due process using VPNs and other means.
Musk, meanwhile, has characterized the judge's actions as an attack on freedom of speech and claims the order was issued for “political purposes.” This is not the first time X has faced restrictions in Brazil. In April, Musk initially challenged de Moraes' order to block certain accounts, but ultimately decided to comply with the ruling.
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Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering free speech and online censorship.
