Elon Musk’s Starlink to comply with judge’s order and block X in Brazil

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 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,