Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink has sent a letter to Brazilian customers in response to legal action taken by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The company had its accounts blocked in the country, an offshoot of the disputes between Musk and Moraes, which began when the minister requested information about accounts under investigation on the social network X (formerly Twitter), also owned by Musk.
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Understand the context of the dispute
The impasse began when the Supreme Court demanded that X (formerly Twitter) hand over information about certain accounts and ban specific profiles. Musk, defending freedom of expression, refused to cooperate, claiming that the Supreme Court’s actions constituted censorship.
The situation worsened when Moraes ordered the blocking of Starlink accounts in Brazil, a measure that, according to the company, was taken without due legal process and without adequate communication. The judge stated that he took this measure to ensure that Elon Musk will pay the fines related to X that he currently owes to the courts. This amount is currently approximately R$20 million.
Elon Musk is being investigated by the Supreme Court in cases involving digital militias, but he has always refused to comply with court orders from Alexandres de Moraes to take down some profiles that are accused of spreading fake news and attacking Brazilian democracy.
The case even led to the closure of X’s office in Brazil, as employees could be arrested for disobeying the law.
Content of the letter
Folha de São Paulo had access to a letter sent to the emails of Starlink customers in Brazil. This one, in particular, was obtained from a lawyer who is a client of the company, and who said “shocked that Musk is using the company to try to turn the public against the country’s Supreme Court.”
In the letter, Starlink said it was committed to “defending the rights” of its users and promised to continue providing services, even if free of charge, if necessary. The company also criticized the fines imposed on X, calling them unconstitutional and issued “in secret.” Additionally, Starlink stressed that the actions against X should not impact its operations, as the two companies have no formal affiliations.
Uncertain future for Starlink and X
Starlink is the leading provider of satellite internet in Brazil, with over 200,000 customers, especially in remote regions and small towns where internet access is limited. With a market share of 42.5%, the company has established itself as a leader in the sector in just two years of operation in the country.
Despite Starlink’s resistance, the expectation is that X could be temporarily blocked in Brazil if the legal dispute continues. Musk, in turn, maintains a critical stance towards Moraes, using the X platform itself to express his discontent with the STF’s decisions.
Source: Sao Paulo Newspaper
Source: https://www.hardware.com.br/noticias/starlink-critica-stf-por-bloqueio-de-contas-e-promete-internet-de-graca.html
