Starlink Folds Its Arms and Announces It Will Block Access to X (Twitter) in Brazil

Starlink has agreed to comply with a court order to block X (Twitter) in Brazil. Ignoring the telecom regulator’s request, the satellite internet company folded its arms and said it would comply with the law. The company thought twice and confirmed it would veto access to the social network, making it clear it was against it.

In a message on his profile X: Starlink said it would comply with the order to block X in Brazil. SpaceX subsidiary does not want to risk the subsidy being removed in that country, leaving more than 200,000 people without internet access. Starlink added that they are doing everything they can to keep people connected.

“Following @alexandre’s order last week, which froze Starlink’s finances and prevents Starlink from conducting financial transactions in Brazil, we immediately initiated legal proceedings in the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil,” the company said. “Regardless of Starlink’s illegal handling of the freezing of our assets, We are complying with the order to block access to X in Brazil.“

In the same publication, Starlink mentioned that it would exhaust its legal options and They will ask the high court to unfreeze their accounts.. The latter was used by the company as a demand to block X in Brazil, but the demands did not impress Judge Alexandre de Moraes or the court ministers. Starlink is obliged to comply with the court’s decision, otherwise will not be able to serve in the South American country.

Starlink Would Rather Block X (Twitter) Than Lose Money in Brazil

According to a report from Folha de Sao PauloStarlink has written to the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to inform that blocked the domains x.com and twitter.com. The company asked the regulator to confirm the transaction within a few hours.

Starlink, like other operators, received a notice from Anatel vetoing access to Twitter domains. Carlos Baigorri, the president of the regulator, said in an interview that he had spoken with Starlink’s lawyers. The lawyers offered to unfreeze the accounts in exchange for accepting the block, but it had no effect.

Baigorri expected that Starlink’s refusal would mean the final cancellation of the concession. Along with freezing bank accounts, Alexander de Moraes instructed the Central Bank do not authorize or permit any money transfers, transfers or receipts of moneyThe company attempted to defend the appeal, but on August 30, the STF judge rejected the motion.

To lift the blockade of X, the STF requires compliance with court orders, payment of fines and the appointment of a legal representative in Brazil. On the other hand, Minister de Moraes claims that Starlink is part of a “de facto economic group” led by Elon Musk.