In a recent development, Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has decided to defy a Brazilian court’s order to block the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). According to The New York Times and confirmed by Anatel President Carlos Baigorri in an interview with Globo News, the decision to not comply with the court order comes amidst an ongoing dispute over frozen assets.
Baigorri explained that while Starlink’s legal team has informed the agency of their refusal to enforce the X block, an official notification is still pending. This defiance could have significant repercussions, as Baigorri indicated that if Starlink continues to operate without adhering to the court’s decision, Anatel might consider revoking the company’s operating license in Brazil. Such a move could severely impact Starlink’s ability to serve its Brazilian customers, potentially leading to the seizure of equipment from the 23 ground stations the company has established across the country.
Starlink has recently faced legal hurdles after a Brazilian Supreme Court judge, Alexandre de Moraes, ordered the block on X due to unresolved issues surrounding the company’s assets. In response, Starlink filed a petition to unfreeze its assets, which was subsequently denied. The company has pledged to provide free internet service to its Brazilian customers while the financial restrictions remain in place.
Since its debut in Brazil in 2022, Starlink has gained substantial traction, especially in remote areas like the Amazon rainforest. This service has been a game-changer for isolated communities, including indigenous tribes, who have benefited from unprecedented access to the internet. Currently, Starlink boasts around 250,000 users in Brazil.
Elon Musk, showing no signs of backing down, has escalated the situation by threatening to publish secret communications on X that allegedly call for blocking the accounts of opposition figures. As the legal and operational standoff continues, the future of Starlink’s service in Brazil hangs in the balance.
Source: