Elon Musk's Starlink blocks access to X social media in Brazil - Reuters
X social media logo and an image of Elon Musk (photo: Getty Images)
Starlink has started blocking access to the social media platform X in Brazil, despite previously stating that it would not do so, reports Reuters.
Starlink, the satellite broadband service owned by billionaire Elon Musk, announced on Tuesday that it is complying with a Brazilian Supreme Court order to block access to the social media platform X in the country. This decision came a day after the company informed the Brazilian regulatory authority that it would not adhere to the order.
According to Reuters, Starlink has become a new battleground between Musk and Brazil. The issue stems from a directive by Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes to freeze the company's accounts, potentially to cover fines owed by X, also owned by Musk.
"Regardless of the illegal treatment of Starlink in freezing of our assets, we are complying with the order to block access to X in Brazil," stated Starlink, which serves over 200,000 customers in the country.
On Monday, Brazil's telecommunications regulator Anatel reported that Starlink had initially informed it of its decision not to follow Judge Moraes's order, which required all internet providers to block access to X in Brazil.
However, a representative from Anatel confirmed to Reuters that Starlink reversed its decision and informed the regulator on Tuesday that it would complete the block within a few hours.
Anatel has confirmed that Starlink has already begun blocking access to X in Brazil.
X has been blocked in Brazil since last week, following Moraes's order for all communication operators in the country to shut down the social media platform due to the absence of a legal representative in Brazil.
