Starlink’s Response to Brazil’s Court Order

By Luciana Novaes Magalhaes

(Reuters) – Elon Musk-controlled satellite internet provider Starlink has informed Brazil’s telecom regulator, Anatel, that it will not comply with a court order to block the social media platform X in the country until its local accounts are unfrozen.

Anatel confirmed this information to Reuters on Monday after its head, Carlos Baigorri, stated in an interview with Globo TV that they had received a note from Starlink, which serves over 200,000 customers in Brazil, and forwarded it to Brazil’s Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes had ordered all telecom providers in Brazil to shut down X, also owned by Musk, due to the platform’s lack of a legal representative in the country. This order resulted in the freezing of Starlink’s bank accounts in Brazil. Starlink operates under Musk-led rocket company SpaceX, and the billionaire publicly criticized Moraes, labeling him a “dictator.”

The freezing of Starlink’s accounts is associated with an ongoing dispute concerning unpaid fines that X was mandated to pay for failing to submit certain documents.

The Supreme Court has not responded to requests for comments regarding this issue.

A five-member panel of the court is scheduled to decide on Monday whether to uphold Moraes’ ruling. Legal experts consulted by Reuters suggest that the panel will likely affirm Moraes’ decision.