In a high-profile clash, Brazil has blocked Starlink accounts as part of an ongoing dispute with Elon Musk. The move impacts users relying on the satellite internet service across the country.
Starlink, the company led by Elon Musk, revealed that financial accounts in Brazil have been instructed to be blocked by the country’s highest judge due to a persistent dispute concerning X social media platform.
On Thursday, Starlink, the satellite internet operator owned by Musk, announced that it had been issued an order by Brazil’s Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes. The order halts all financial activities of Starlink and prohibits any transactions from taking place within the country.
According to a court source who spoke with Reuters, Starlink’s sanction was triggered by the absence of legal representatives for X (formerly Twitter) in Brazil.
On Wednesday, De Moraes gave an ultimatum to Musk, demanding that he appoint a new legal representative for X in Brazil within 24 hours or risk suspension of his company’s operations in the largest country of Latin America.
Musk strongly criticized the decision, asserting that the platform is being penalized for standing up against censorship. Following his acquisition and renaming of Twitter to X in October 2022, the tycoon condemned de Moraes’ actions as unjustly punishing not just shareholders but also citizens of Brazil.
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Musk expressed on his social media platform that SpaceX and X are distinct entities with separate stakeholders. He added that as an owner of almost 40% of SpaceX, the dictator’s actions were certainly illegal.
On X, Starlink alleged that de Moraes’ mandate was handed down in secrecy and denied them of the legal procedures accorded by Brazil’s constitution.
Starlink stated that the order is unjustified as it wrongly holds them accountable for fines imposed on X, which violate constitutional provisions.
Earlier this month, X disclosed its decision to shut down operations in Brazil and terminate all employees. The reason cited was supposed issuance of “censorship orders” by de Moraes. However, the service will remain available for users based in Brazil.
At the beginning of this year, de Moraes directed that several X accounts, purportedly linked to a “digital militia” comprised of prominent individuals affiliated with former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, be suspended.
Brazil’s Supreme Court members have been targeted by the “digital militias” who are alleged to be spreading malicious allegations and making threats.
After the deadline on Thursday evening elapsed, X declared that it anticipated de Moraes to instruct for the shutdown “soon” as they refused to follow the judge’s instructions. They regarded these orders as an unlawful action geared towards censoring their political adversaries.
