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Elon Musk’s internet service provider, Starlink, said it will comply with a judge’s order and will no longer provide Brazilians with access to the Musk-owned social network X, in compliance with a judge’s order shutting down X in that nation on Saturday.
It’s the latest development in an intensifying battle between Musk and the Brazilian judiciary. Alexandre de Moraes, a Brazilian supreme court justice appointed to investigate the spread of misinformation on social media inside the country, banned X after it refused to comply with the judge’s order to appoint a legal representative there.
The ban blocked X to more than 21 million users, according to X figures as of April 2024. Musk then took to the platform to say that Starlink would provide free internet access to Brazilians, and therefore continued access to X.
But on Sept. 3, Starlink shared a post on X that detailed its latest troubles, ultimately saying “we are complying with the order to block access to X in Brazil.”
To our customers in Brazil (who may not be able to read this as a result of X being blocked by @alexandre):
The Starlink team is doing everything possible to keep you connected.
Following last week’s order from @alexandre that froze Starlink’s finances and prevents Starlink…
— Starlink (@Starlink) September 3, 2024
In an effort to regain access, some people have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs). In recent weeks, Google searches for “VPN” in Brazil have spiked. Anyone who has been found to circumvent the ban by using technology could be subject to a daily fine of up to 50,000 reals, ($8,900 USD) as detailed in Moraes’ ruling.
The origins of X’s Brazil ban
The latest fight began in April when Musk, in reply to Moraes’ investigation into the spread of misinformation (particularly as it may have affected Brazil’s 2022 election) said he would reactivate X accounts that Moraes ordered shut down. Moraes then began an inquiry into Musk and X on obstruction-of-justice grounds.
For his part, Musk says Moraes has “brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil.”
Coming shortly, 𝕏 will publish everything demanded by @Alexandre and how those requests violate Brazilian law.
This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil. He should resign or be impeached.
Shame @Alexandre, shame.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 7, 2024
Starlink, in its Sept. 3 post, said its “team is doing everything possible to keep [Brazilians] connected.
“Following last week’s order from @alexandre that froze Starlink’s finances and prevents Starlink from conducting financial transactions in Brazil, we immediately initiated legal proceedings in the Brazilian Supreme Court explaining the gross illegality of this order and asking the Court to unfreeze our assets.
“Regardless of the illegal treatment of Starlink in freezing of our assets, we are complying with the order to block access to X in Brazil.” The asset freeze pertains to the Brazilian government’s efforts to collect $3 million in fines from X. For now, Moraes’ X ban has been upheld by the Supreme Court he serves on.
“We continue to pursue all legal avenues, as are others who agree that @alexandre’s recent orders violate the Brazilian constitution,” Starlink said on X.
Featured Image via Midjourney
