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Elon Musk’s company “Starlink” has informed Brazil’s telecom regulator, Anatel, that it will not comply with a court order to block the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Let’s bring you up to speed: Last week, Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the blocking of Starlink’s financial accounts due to its connection with Elon Musk’s platform, X, citing their lack of legal representation in Brazil. This absence has prevented the enforcement of court orders on content moderation on the platform. The moderation, which both companies say would violate Brazilian law, seeks to ban some notable Brazilian accounts of those tied to the former president and content takedowns related to those who claim the previous election was stolen and fraudulent.
What’s going on now: Starlink informed Brazil’s telecom regulator, Anatel, that it would not comply with the court order to block access to the social media platform X until its frozen bank accounts in Brazil were released. This communication was made in a letter from Starlink’s legal team to Anatel.
Anatel informs Supreme Court: In an interview with a local news outlet, Anatel President Carlos Baigorri revealed that he informed the Supreme Court about Starlink’s letter and warned that Anatel might be ordered to revoke Starlink’s license in Brazil. This would be a significant move, as many Brazilians, along with businesses and airlines operating in the country, rely on Starlink for internet access.
How would this be enforced?: It’s unclear how Anatel or the Brazilian government could implement an order to shut down Starlink’s operations in the country, given that it’s a satellite-based service beyond their physical control. Some speculate that Musk might defy a potential license revocation, which could push Brazil to take drastic actions, possibly even issuing a warrant for his arrest.