Brazil might consider revoking Starlink's operating permit.
Originally, X was hesitant to restrict user accounts spreading falsehoods in Brazil. Consequently, the judiciary imposed penalties, which Elon Musk's owner attempted to skirt around. Currently, X is inaccessible in South America's Brazil, except through Musk's Starlink. Moreover, the internet provider encounters threats from local authorities.
This tension between Brazil and Elon Musk's business ventures, including his messaging platform X and satellite network Starlink, escalates further. Brazil's telecom regulator Anatel threatened Starlink with consequences following the company's refusal to abide by the Supreme Court's decision to ban X in Brazil. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva conveys to CNN Brasil that the judiciary has issued a stern message, "indicating that the world is not obliged to tolerate Elon Musk's far-right ideology simply because he is wealthy."
Elements close to Anatel mention that the sanctions against Starlink could also involve pulling its Brazilian license. They accuse X of failing to specify a local legal representative and disregarding the deadline for complying with regulations.
X ceases operations for the majority of Brazilians on Saturday. People attempting to circumvent the ban using technical methods, like VPN connections, face a daily fine of 50,000 Real (approximately 8,000 Euros). Brazil is reported to be X's sixth-largest market, with 21.5 million users. The top judge, Alexandre de Moraes, orders X to block accounts of users disseminating lies and misleading information. Many of these users are supporters of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro who refuse to acknowledge his 2022 election loss. Musk, however, refuses to oblige, claiming censorship.
Last week, Moraes also mandates the freezing of Starlink's accounts, following X's failure to pay fines for non-compliance with court orders, amounting to $3 million. Starlink remains the sole company resisting Anatel's order to block domestic access to X.
Brazilian authorities assert that Starlink informed them it would not obstruct the social network for its 250,000 Brazilian customers, as long as the authorities froze the company's assets.
The Brazilian President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, criticizes Elon Musk's perceived far-right ideology, stating that the world is not obligated to tolerate it merely due to wealth. Despite the threats from local authorities, the President of the Republic remains inaccessible in Brazil through X, which has ceased operations in the majority of the country.
