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September 2nd, 2024

Starlink Defies Order to Block X in Brazil

Starlink is defying a Brazilian court order to block access to X, facing potential license revocation. The conflict impacts 250,000 customers, with Musk suggesting users circumvent the ban despite risks.

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Starlink Defies Order to Block X in Brazil

Elon Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, is refusing to comply with a Brazilian court order to block access to his social network, X. This defiance follows a series of legal disputes between Musk and Brazilian authorities, particularly with Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has accused X of spreading disinformation and hate speech. Starlink, which has 250,000 customers in Brazil, informed the country's telecom agency that it would not block X until its frozen assets were released. The Brazilian government has threatened to revoke Starlink's operating license, which could disrupt service for its customers. Musk has criticized the financial sanctions imposed on Starlink, claiming they are illegal and unjustly punish SpaceX shareholders for X's actions. The ongoing conflict has significant implications for millions of Brazilians who rely on Starlink for internet access, especially in remote areas. Despite the court's orders, Starlink has continued to operate, and Musk has suggested that users could circumvent the ban using software, risking substantial fines. The situation highlights Musk's influence and the complexities of regulatory compliance in the digital age.

- Starlink is defying a Brazilian court order to block access to X.

- The Brazilian government has threatened to revoke Starlink's operating license.

- Musk claims the sanctions against Starlink are illegal and unjust.

- The conflict affects 250,000 Starlink customers in Brazil, particularly in remote areas.

- Musk has suggested users circumvent the ban, risking fines.

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Starlink will now be free in Brazil since remote hospitals, schools use it: Musk

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X Suspended By Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes

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A Brazilian Supreme Court justice suspended Elon Musk's platform X for failing to appoint a local representative, citing legal requirements. The situation raises concerns over free speech and misinformation in Brazil.

Brazilian court orders suspension of X

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A Brazilian court has suspended Elon Musk's platform X for not appointing a legal representative, mandating compliance and blocking access through over 20,000 providers, while imposing fines and account freezes.

Musk's X suspended in Brazil after disinformation row

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X has been suspended in Brazil for non-compliance with court orders regarding disinformation. Musk criticized the ruling, while Apple and Google must remove the platform from their app stores.

Link Icon 14 comments
By @ldbooth - 8 months
I just wish this guy would take the loss and sell twitter and go back to being an uncontroversial tech legend. Mixing with Social media has corrupted every positive thing he has done and maybe will do if he keeps it up at the current pace. People tire of the drama king. If you don't know what I mean.. he said his transgender child is dead to him in a publicly aired interview. That's where this guy is in his personal relationships.
By @cjpearson - 8 months
Is this a principled defense of free speech or a case of a man treating ostensibly independent companies as divisions of his personal conglomerate?
By @simonhorlick - 8 months
X is turning into a wasteland of angry people and bots. Bluesky is much more refreshing, similar to the old twitter.
By @flotzam - 8 months
Just how important are the ground stations in Brazil? (I don't mean the end user terminals.)

If Starlink will basically continue to work well enough if those are seized, it seems like the obvious next steps are going to be crypto/stablecoin payments and a focus on small form factor terminals like Starlink Mini that can bypass customs.

By @zo1 - 8 months
Looks like the end-goal may just be that we have an alternate, freer internet that you can only access via non-government-approved satellite feed.

@Elon: Start putting your actual servers up in order next.

By @batushka5 - 8 months
Barelly related, I was not Twitter user, but since X I come up with full length XXX movies in suggestions. Did it started with X or they were a thing before Elon?
By @josefritzishere - 8 months
Elon is antagonizing an international incident. It's clear that Brazil law prevails in Brazil. He has no foundation here except gross arrogance.
By @monkfish328 - 8 months
A non-paywalled article on the topic - https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/09/02/tech/musk-s...
By @orwin - 8 months
This storyline was a rare case of me supporting Elon, but once again, he goes too far, childishly, for his ego. He is just proving a lot of people i don't particularly like right, that billionaires are supranational powers. Which does support a very marxist view on capitalism (and productivism sadly), that it enable money to create power above political power.
By @olivierduval - 8 months
Sorry I don't get: how is possible to find anybody defending Musk when the Supreme Court of a democracy ruled to exclude X from the country ?

Free speech is a good thing AS LONG AS it respect the country laws. In France, the People decided democratically (through their elected representatives) against some kinds of so-called "free speech" (for example: racism apology). That's OUR choice, on OUR territory (like it or not: rule your own country but not mine). Why should X be allowed to refuse to respect the France laws on the french territory (resp. Europe) ?

And if a Court find that X doesn't respect the country law, why should X be seen as a "free speech" leader and not just as an illegal company ?

For me, Musk attitude is just plain bullying as usual, and I just hope that Brazil will be able to negociate with US to punish him as he deserve for being such an (insert your prefered insult here)

By @TibbityFlanders - 8 months
It's frightening how authoritarian the Left has become around the world. Ambiguous laws about'hate' seem poised to protect the world from thought crimes by curtailing basic human rights.

In this context Musk is right and has the power to bring change. He will lose a lot of that power under a Harris presidency that has advertised it plans to continue the crusade against freedom of speech.

By @INTPenis - 8 months
Brazil should just sponsor their own fediverse nodes. But it's a lot easier to just block something in their national ISP. Complicated long term solutions are not interesting when they're trying to extort Elon for money.