Musk’s Starlink defies Brazil’s order to block X, as Supreme Court panel upholds ruling
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The news: Elon Musk-controlled satellite internet service, Starlink, is defying a Brazilian Supreme Court order to block his social media platform, X, according to the country's telecom regulator, Anatel.
The numbers: Starlink told the regulator it would not comply with an order to block X for its over 200,000 customers in Brazil until its local bank accounts are unfrozen, the regulator’s commissioner Carlos Baigorri told local media.
Anatel confirmed the refusal to Reuters on Monday.
Last week, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes froze Starlink’s local assets to try to collect fines worth over USD3 million ($4.42 million). The fines were imposed on X in part for ignoring directions to suspend certain accounts he said spread disinformation and hate speech.
The context: Musk closed X’s offices last month citing jail threats to its legal representatives for refusing to suspend certain X accounts. De Moraes then instructed all local telecom providers to block X due to the platform's lack of a legal representative in Brazil, which is required by law to operate in the country.
On Monday, a five-member panel of the court unanimously upheld De Moraes' ruling, in a blow to Musk, who had sought to characterise him as an authoritarian censor.
X will remain blocked until it meets the requirements of his orders and settles outstanding fines, which had surpassed $3 million by last week, The Associated Press reported citing the ruling.
De Moraes also imposed a daily fine of 50,000 reais ($13,110) for individuals or businesses using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access X. The majority of the panel also upheld the VPN fine, though one justice dissented, arguing it should only apply if users are proven to be committing crimes on X.
What they said: Musk has called De Moraes a “dictator” and has criticised the financial sanctions on Starlink as "absolutely illegal.”
Anatel’s Baigorri warned that Starlink might lose its licence, even as the company may have the ability to continue its service using its satellite, which would be illegal. In that case, Anatel could confiscate Starlink’s equipment enhancing the quality of its connectivity at 23 ground stations across the country, Baigorri told Globo News.
The sources: Rreuters, The New York Times, The Associated Press
