Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk, announced that it will comply with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) order to block access to X, formerly known as Twitter. The decision comes after a week of tension between the company and Brazilian judicial authorities. The X platform, which Musk also owns, confirmed the block on Tuesday, 3 September.
Last Sunday, 1 September, Starlink informed Carlos Baigorri, president of the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), that it would not comply with the court order if the company's bank accounts remained blocked. STF minister Alexandre de Moraes ordered the freezing of the accounts on Thursday, 29 September, due to legal debts Musk owes to the Brazilian justice system.
Starlink has said it will comply with Moraes' order despite the financial difficulties. The company said that, although it considers blocking its accounts illegal, it will go ahead with the suspension of X in Brazil. According to information published by the Estadão newspaper, Starlink users could still access the social network in several parts of the country, even after the initial order.
The conflict between Musk and the STF escalated on 30 September when Moraes issued a new order to suspend access to X throughout Brazil. This action was taken after Musk ignored a summons requesting him to appoint a legal representative for the social network in the country. The order was passed on to Anatel, who coordinates its implementation with internet service providers.
Starlink cannot conduct transactions within Brazil with the financial block still in place. The company has initiated legal proceedings at the STF to challenge Moraes' decision, calling the actions "unlawful treatment," according to a statement issued by the company. However, the platform will comply with the order to avoid additional sanctions.
The STF maintains X's suspension while legal disputes continue. According to Brazilian media outlet Estadão, Starlink intends to cooperate with the authorities, although it will continue to fight to unblock its assets in Brazil.
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