Starlink to comply with Brazil order to block X access

Starlink
Satellite broadband company Starlink says it will comply with a court order to block access to X. -AP

Elon Musk's satellite broadband company Starlink says it is complying with Brazil's top court judge Alexandre de Moraes' order to block access to social media platform X in the country.

In a post on X, Starlink said it had initiated legal proceedings in the Brazilian Supreme Court explaining the "gross illegality" of Moraes' order, that froze Starlink's finances and prevents it from conducting financial transactions in Brazil.

"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," the X post said.

To our customers in Brazil (who may not be able to read this as a result of X being blocked by — Starlink (@Starlink) @alexandre):The Starlink team is doing everything possible to keep you connected. Following last week's order from @alexandre that froze Starlink's finances and prevents Starlink…September 3, 2024

Starlink added that it continues to pursue all legal avenues, as are others who agree that the judge's "recent orders violate the Brazilian constitution."

Starlink had on Monday refused to obey Moraes' order for all internet providers to block domestic access to X.

Tensions between Brazil and Musk's business empire ratcheted up further as the country's telecoms regulator threatened to sanction Starlink after its top court stood behind the controversial decision to ban social network X from the country.