The Brazilian Supreme Court has ordered the freezing of all financial accounts of Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk.
This decision comes as part of an ongoing legal dispute between Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes over compliance with local regulations.
The conflict began when Justice de Moraes demanded that X, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Musk, block certain accounts accused of spreading misinformation. Musk has publicly criticized these demands, labeling them as censorship.
The situation escalated when X failed to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, leading to the court's decision to freeze Starlink's accounts to ensure the payment of fines imposed on X.
Musk has responded vehemently, calling Justice de Moraes an "outright criminal" and accusing him of overstepping his authority. In a series of posts on X, Musk announced that Starlink would provide free internet service to its Brazilian customers until the matter is resolved.
Starlink, which has over 250,000 customers in Brazil, plays a crucial role in providing internet access to remote areas of the country. The company's representatives have stated that the court's decision was made without due process and that they plan to challenge it legally.
As the legal battle continues, the future of both Starlink and X in Brazil remains uncertain. This case highlights the ongoing tension between tech giants and regulatory bodies worldwide, raising important questions about the balance between free speech and the regulation of online content.
