Starlink’s Accounts Frozen in Brazil Amid Supreme Court Tensions with Elon Musk

Starlink’s Accounts Frozen in Brazil Amid Tensions with Supreme Court Justice

Starlink has reported that its accounts have been frozen in Brazil, escalating a conflict between Alexandre de Moraes, a justice on the Brazilian Supreme Court, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, particularly concerning his social media platform, X. In a statement released on X, the SpaceX-owned Starlink remarked, “This order is based on an unfounded determination that Starlink should be responsible for the fines levied—unconstitutionally—against X.” They added that the order was issued in secrecy and without the due process guaranteed by the Brazilian Constitution, asserting their intention to resolve the issue through legal channels.

In response to reports about the account freeze, Musk did not hold back, labeling de Moraes as “an outright criminal of the worst kind, masquerading as a judge.”

This week, de Moraes escalated the situation by threatening to suspend the social media platform X nationwide unless Musk adheres to his directives. Brazil represents a vital market for both X and Starlink, with approximately 40 million Brazilians—about one-fifth of the population—accessing X at least once a month, according to data from market research group Emarketer. Furthermore, Starlink boasts a customer base of approximately 250,000 users in the country.

The Basis for De Moraes’ Threat

Earlier this month, X took the significant step of terminating its legal representative in Brazil after de Moraes allegedly threatened her with arrest. Under Brazilian law, foreign companies must have local legal representation to operate within the country, as stated by the Supreme Court’s press office. Consequently, de Moraes set a 24-hour ultimatum for X to appoint a new representative or face potential shutdown. X publicly declared on Thursday that it anticipates a forthcoming suspension of its services in Brazil, stating, “Unlike other social media and technology platforms, we will not comply in secret with illegal orders.” The platform emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the freedom of speech for its users both in Brazil and globally.

Luca Belli, coordinator of the Technology and Society Center at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Rio, highlighted the implications of X’s refusal to appoint a legal representative, particularly in light of Brazil’s upcoming municipal elections in October, when the spread of misinformation is expected to surge. Should de Moraes act on his threats, this would not mark the first instance of a Brazilian justice shutting down a social media platform. WhatsApp faced multiple shutdowns in Brazil between 2015 and 2016 due to its refusal to comply with police data requests. In 2022, de Moraes similarly threatened Telegram with a nationwide suspension, citing its repeated disregard for Brazilian authorities’ requests to block certain profiles and provide information. Telegram ultimately complied by appointing a local representative, allowing it to remain operational.

How a Shutdown Would Occur

If de Moraes moves forward with his threat, the process would begin with notifying the nation’s telecommunications regulator, Anatel, which would then instruct internet service providers—including Musk’s own Starlink—to suspend access to X for users in Brazil. This could involve blocking the resolution of X’s website and preventing access to the IP addresses of X’s servers within Brazilian territory, according to Belli. The platform could potentially go offline within as little as 12 hours following the receipt of instructions, as the process is relatively straightforward. Additionally, major app stores would likely be directed to remove X from mobile devices, as noted by Carlos Affonso Souza, Director of the Institute for Technology and Society in Rio de Janeiro.

Related

• Elon Musk included in Brazilian judge’s investigation of disinformation

X also accused de Moraes’ colleagues on the Supreme Court in its Thursday statement of being “either unwilling or unable to stand up to him.” Supporters of de Moraes contend that his actions are lawful, backed by a majority of the court, and are aimed at safeguarding democracy in a time of peril. Affonso Souza added that a ruling from a single judge to shut down a platform with such a vast user base would likely be reviewed later by the Supreme Court’s full bench.

If the ban is enacted, Brazil would join a select group of nations that have blocked X, including Russia, China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan.