Elon Musk's satellite internet company, Starlink 🚀, has decided to comply with a Brazilian Supreme Court order to block access to X (formerly Twitter) 📱 in Brazil 🇧🇷. This move comes after a legal face-off with Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who had previously frozen Starlink's assets to enforce compliance.
In a statement posted on X, Starlink said, \"Regardless of the illegal treatment of Starlink in freezing our assets, we are complying with the order to block access to X in Brazil. We continue to pursue all legal avenues, as are others who agree that @alexandre's recent order violates the Brazilian constitution.\"
Justice de Moraes had frozen Starlink's accounts last week, aiming to compel the company to cover X's fines exceeding $3 million 💰. He argued that Starlink and X are part of the same economic group. Starlink initially resisted, informing regulators it wouldn't comply until the justice reversed his order, but the pressure seems to have worked.
The clash centers around X's reluctance to block certain users—mostly far-right activists accused of undermining Brazilian democracy and allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro 🗳️. Justice de Moraes ordered X to appoint a local legal representative to receive court notifications and take required actions, such as taking down accounts.
A Supreme Court panel unanimously upheld the block on X this Monday 📅. Meanwhile, Musk hasn't held back on social media, calling Justice de Moraes \"an evil tyrant\" and \"a disgrace to judges' robes.\" 🤬
With Starlink complying with the court's order, Brazilian users might soon find themselves without access to X. The legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between tech giants and governments over regulation and control 🌐.
Reference(s):
Starlink says will comply with judge's order to block X in Brazil
cgtn.com
