In the latest twist of the ongoing saga between Brazil and Elon Musk’s ventures, the conflict has intensified with Brazil’s telecommunications regulator threatening sanctions against Starlink. This move comes in the wake of Brazil’s Supreme Court upholding a controversial ban on the social media platform X, which Musk owns.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has voiced strong support for Judge Alexandre de Moraes’ decision to suspend X. The judge’s ruling was based on claims that X was used to spread hate speech and misinformation about Brazil’s electoral system, which allegedly jeopardized the country’s democracy.
In response to the judge’s earlier decision to freeze Starlink’s Brazilian bank accounts as potential collateral for fines levied against X, Musk hinted at retaliatory measures but remained vague about specifics.
Starlink found itself in hot water once again on Monday when it defied Moraes’ order to block Brazilian access to X. Anatel, Brazil’s telecommunications authority, warned that failure to comply could result in the revocation of Starlink’s operating license in the country. Anatel’s commissioner Artur Coimbra revealed that Starlink is the only provider resisting the block.
Starlink has yet to comment on the situation, but it previously indicated that it would not act against X until the freeze on its accounts was lifted. Moraes had taken this step after X failed to pay fines for not adhering to previous court directives.
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the suspension of X came after the platform failed to appoint a local legal representative as required by Brazilian law. The court panel’s ruling was supported by justices Flavio Dino, Cristiano Zanin, Carmen Lucia, and Luiz Fux, although they noted that compliance with earlier orders could lead to the suspension being lifted.
While X was inaccessible for most users in Brazil over the weekend, some continued to use VPNs to bypass the block. Moraes has warned of daily fines for those using VPNs, though the effectiveness of this threat remains uncertain.
Musk and Moraes have been at odds for months, with the social media platform challenging orders to block certain accounts accused of spreading false information. Musk contends that the suspension of X represents a threat to free expression, while critics argue that Moraes’ actions are necessary to safeguard democratic principles.
In the ongoing battle over digital freedom and regulatory power, both Musk and Brazilian authorities are digging in their heels, setting the stage for further developments in this high-stakes conflict.
