Starlink has already started blocking X in Brazil

Access to X, the social network that used to be known as Twitter, has been blocked in Brazil following an order from the country’s Supreme Court. The measure, which came into effect on Sunday night, was taken after a series of lawsuits against X, which is accused of spreading hate speech and misinformation.

The only way to access the platform since then has been through VPNs, which can carry hefty fines, or through Starlink, a satellite internet service also controlled by X owner Elon Musk. But it looks like that won’t be for long.

Read also:

Anatel: Starlink may lose its license to operate in Brazil if it does not block X
First STF panel forms majority to maintain X suspension

Lawsuit and blocking of Starlink

The blocking of X is part of a larger dispute involving Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has led a series of lawsuits against the platform. Moraes also ordered the freezing of local bank accounts of Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, as a way to ensure payment of fines levied against X for failing to comply with court orders requiring the blocking of certain accounts on the platform.

Brazil’s national telecommunications agency, Anatel, said Starlink refused to comply with the court order until its assets were released. In response, Musk called the account freeze “illegal,” arguing that SpaceX and X are separate entities, despite his 40% ownership of SpaceX. Despite this, the court rejected a petition by Starlink to unfreeze its assets.

Starlink backtracks and starts blocking X

Starlink has about 250,000 customers in Brazil, many of them in rural areas and indigenous communities in the Amazon where satellite internet service is vital. Amid the dispute, Starlink has promised to continue providing free internet to its customers in Brazil while their bank accounts are frozen.

But it has now backtracked on its decision not to block X, likely anticipating that such noncompliance could result in its license to operate in the country being revoked. In addition, authorities could confiscate equipment from 23 ground stations.

The announcement was made on X, a platform that Brazilians no longer have access to. Check out the translation:

“To our customers in Brazil (who may not be able to read this due to X blocking by @alexandre):

The Starlink team is doing everything we can to keep you connected.

Following last week’s order by @alexandre freezing Starlink’s finances and preventing Starlink from conducting financial transactions in Brazil, we immediately initiated legal proceedings in the Brazilian Supreme Court, explaining the blatant illegality of this order and asking the Court to unfreeze our assets. Regardless of the illegal treatment given to Starlink in the 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 do others who agree that @alexandre’s recent orders violate the Brazilian constitution.”

Now it becomes even more difficult to access the platform in Brazil. Remember that the court approved an order to fine R$50,000 per day anyone caught using a VPN to access X.