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Starlink, the satellite internet company operated by SpaceX and owned by Elon Musk, has announced that it will comply with a Brazilian court order to block access to the social media platform X in Brazil. This decision follows a ruling by the Brazilian Supreme Court, which Starlink has criticized as "illegal."
On September 3, Starlink stated via X that it disagrees with the court’s decision, which was issued after Alexandre de Moraes, a Supreme Court justice, ordered the suspension of X in Brazil on August 30. The suspension was a consequence of Musk’s refusal to appoint a legal representative for X’s operations in the country. This decision was later upheld by a panel of five justices.
Despite calling the ruling illegal, {Starlink} (STARL) confirmed it would follow the order and block access to X in Brazil. The company has initiated legal proceedings to challenge the court's decision and continues to seek legal recourse, arguing that the orders infringe upon the Brazilian constitution.
The court’s decision is connected to an investigation led by Moraes into alleged misinformation spread on X related to former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Moraes stated that X would remain suspended until the company pays fines exceeding $3 million. The decision has sparked widespread criticism among X users in Brazil, who view it as an infringement on freedom of expression. Many have turned to virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass the block, though Moraes’ order also imposes fines of up to 50,000 reais (about $8,900) for evading the suspension.
Starlink’s compliance with the court order, while pursuing legal avenues to contest it, underscores the ongoing tensions between global tech companies and national legal systems over issues of digital governance and freedom of speech.
