Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite company, is complying with a Brazilian court’s directive to block access to social media platform X in the country. The company, however, is actively challenging the court’s asset freeze against it, calling the order “illegal.”
The order to suspend X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil was issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, following an investigation into misinformation spread on the platform regarding former President Jair Bolsonaro. Musk’s company, Starlink, is at the forefront of this legal clash, criticizing the ruling in an X post.
The suspension order was placed on August 30, 2024, after Musk refused to name a legal representative for X in Brazil. Starlink confirmed its compliance with the order in a post on September 3, 2024, but also announced it had initiated legal action against the decision.
The suspension affects users across Brazil, where X has been temporarily blocked. Despite this, many Brazilian users have been accessing the platform through virtual private networks (VPNs), despite risks of fines for circumventing the order.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the suspension as part of an ongoing investigation into misinformation campaigns on X surrounding former President Jair Bolsonaro. Musk’s refusal to designate a legal representative for X in Brazil triggered the ruling, with the platform facing fines of more than $3 million if the situation remains unresolved.
Starlink has complied with the court order, blocking access to X, but continues to challenge the freeze of its assets in Brazil through legal avenues. The company stated that it believes the orders issued by Justice Moraes violate the Brazilian constitution and has already started the process to oppose them in court. In addition to the suspension, Moraes imposed fines of up to 50,000 reais ($8,900) on users who attempt to bypass the block using VPNs.
The situation has sparked controversy in Brazil, with critics accusing the government of overreach and infringing on free speech. The case remains a flashpoint for debates on the regulation of social media and online platforms.
