Brazil Lifts Starlink, X Account Freeze After Musk’s Platform Pays $3.3 Mn Fine
Although the payment has been made, the court has not lifted its broader order to block access to X in Brazil, the company’s sixth-largest market
Brazil’s Supreme Court has lifted the freeze on bank accounts linked to Starlink and X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, following the transfer of 18.35 million reais (USD 3.3 million) to the national treasury.
The freeze was initially imposed after X failed to comply with multiple court orders to block accounts accused of spreading misinformation and hate speech, which Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled were threats to Brazilian democracy.
The fines stem from an ongoing legal battle between Moraes and Musk. The judge ordered the freeze on Starlink’s accounts, a subsidiary of SpaceX in which Musk holds a 40 per cent stake, to ensure payment of fines owed by X. Although the payment has been made, the court has not lifted its broader order to block access to X in Brazil, the company’s sixth-largest market. The platform remains under scrutiny for failing to appoint a local legal representative, as required by Brazilian law, and for not removing content flagged by the court.
Musk has publicly criticised these judicial actions, labeling them as censorship. However, X’s failure to meet the court’s deadlines, particularly regarding the removal of harmful content and the appointment of a legal representative in Brazil, has further escalated tensions.
