Elon Musk's Starlink caves in, to block X in Brazil

In a dramatic turn of events that could rival a telenovela, Elon Musk’s tech empire has found itself entangled in a Brazilian legal battle that’s as complex as it is intriguing. The saga, which escalated after a threat from the country’s Supreme Court to ban X, has taken a series of twists and turns, culminating in a surprising decision by Starlink, another Musk-owned company, to comply with the ban.

It all started when the Brazilian Supreme Court, fed up with X’s alleged failure to curb misinformation, threatened to pull the plug on the platform in the country. The court argued that X had violated a court order to block certain accounts and spread false information. X’s days in Brazil seemed numbered, and sure enough, this week, the axe fell. As of September 4, the ban on X officially took effect, with internet service providers and app stores like Google Play Store and Apple App Store ordered to block access to the platform.

As expected, Brazilians, eager to avoid being cut off from their digital lifeline, began flocking to alternative platforms like Bluesky. Others have also been forced to find alternative ways to access X. VPN usage in the country has seen a massive surge despite users facing huge fines. But another viable workaround was to use Starlink’s satellite internet service, which offered a way to bypass the domestic internet providers that were complying with the ban.

However, Starlink wasn’t immune to the legal fallout. The court had frozen the company’s Brazilian assets, demanding that it pay a $3 million fine on behalf of X. Musk, known for his fiery rhetoric, initially refused to comply, arguing that the court’s actions were illegal, unjust and deserving of a prison sentence.

But in a surprising twist, Starlink has now caved in. The company announced that it would comply with the court’s order to block access to X in Brazil, effectively cutting off a lifeline for many Brazilians who had turned to Starlink to stay connected.

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 from conducting financial transactions in Brazil, we immediately initiated legal proceedings in the Brazilian Supreme Court explaining the gross illegality of this order and asking the Court to unfreeze our assets. Regardless of the illegal treatment of Starlink in freezing of 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 orders violate the Brazilian constitution.

This development has raised eyebrows among tech enthusiasts and free speech advocates alike. Musk, who often positions himself as a champion of free speech, has found himself on the wrong side of a battle for censorship. It’s a stark contrast to his public persona, which is often associated with challenging authority and defending individual liberties.

For now, it remains to be seen how Musk will respond to this latest setback. Will he continue to fight the court’s decision, or will he accept defeat and focus on other markets? Only time will tell.