Brazil strikes back: Elon Musk’s X blocked, Starlink finances frozen amid escalating feud with supreme court judge

Brazil’s Supreme Court has blocked Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, after the company refused to comply with legal requirements amid a growing feud between Musk and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The move marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, underscoring the battle between national sovereignty and tech giants over freedom of speech and legal compliance.

The standoff between Elon Musk and Brazil

Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of X, previously known as Twitter, citing the platform’s failure to appoint a local representative in Brazil—a requirement under Brazilian law for internet services to operate legally within the country. This representative is necessary to ensure companies can be promptly notified of court decisions and comply with orders, particularly those related to the removal of illegal content during periods of political sensitivity, such as the upcoming municipal elections in October.

The suspension comes after a series of legal battles between X and Brazil’s judiciary. In April, Justice de Moraes included Musk in an investigation over allegations of spreading fake news and obstructing justice. The judge argued that Musk’s actions and statements have contributed to “extremism, hate speech, and anti-democratic discourse,” further justifying the platform’s suspension.

The fallout and Musk’s response

In response to the suspension, Elon Musk has repeatedly criticized de Moraes, accusing him of authoritarianism and judicial overreach. Musk has called the judge “a criminal” and claimed that the suspension is an act of censorship against free speech. Musk’s remarks have resonated with Brazil’s right-wing factions, who view the judiciary’s actions as politically motivated and detrimental to democratic freedoms.

In a separate but related action, de Moraes ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet provider, which has over 250,000 users in Brazil. This was due to X’s failure to pay accumulating fines for non-compliance with court orders. Starlink called the asset freeze “unconstitutional,” stating that it was carried out without due process. Despite the financial freeze, Starlink announced it would continue to provide free internet in Brazil until the issue is resolved.

Broader implications and expert opinions

Experts suggest that Brazil’s decision to block X is not without precedent. In recent years, Brazilian courts have suspended other tech platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram for non-compliance with legal orders. These actions highlight the country’s broader strategy of enforcing legal compliance on tech giants, particularly during politically sensitive periods. Luca Belli, coordinator of the Technology and Society Center at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, noted that while targeting X may be within legal grounds, extending the freeze to Starlink is “highly questionable,” given the lack of direct operational ties between the two companies beyond shared ownership under Musk.

Digital law expert Filipe Medon described the suspension as an “unusual measure” aimed at ensuring the effective enforcement of court orders. He pointed out that this action sets a precedent for how Brazil, and possibly other countries, might handle non-compliant global tech platforms in the future.