Elon Musk’s Starlink promises free internet access in Brazil amid ongoing X legal row

Starlink has promised free access to Brazilian users after the government blocked access to the internet service provider amid an intensifying legal row with the social network X.

The battle between the Brazilian government and X has bled over into another of Elon Musk’s companies, Starlink. X was banned in the country on Saturday (Aug, 31) after it refused to comply with Brazil’s Supreme Court order to appoint a legal representative.

Since then, the only way to access X in Brazil has been through VPNs (which are officially banned) and Starlink, the internet provider also run by Elon Musk via Space X. Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court justice who has been leading the charge against X, has also blocked the Brazilian bank accounts of Starlink, which is a SpaceX subsidiary, as reported by The New York Times.

In response, Starlink has promised free internet access to those in Brazil to maintain access to X, while its bank accounts remain frozen. The company has also petitioned the court to unblock its assets, only to be dismissed.

Many remote schools and hospitals depend on SpaceX’s Starlink!

SpaceX will provide Internet service to users in Brazil for free until this matter is resolved, as we cannot receive payment, but don’t want to cut anyone off. https://t.co/BHlPpbsKR6

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 30, 2024

Musk has called the seizing of Starlink assets “illegal” and has threatened “reciprocal seizure of government assets too” in a post on X, accompanied by a video of the US seizing Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s airplane in the Dominican Republic.

Moraes is believed to have seized the assets of Starlink in an attempt to collect $3 million worth of fines from X, leveled against the company for refusing to block certain X accounts in Brazil.

Brazil could revoke Starlink’s license for internet services in the country. If it continues to offer services to the 250,000 Brazilian customers after that, there would be grounds to seize equipment from 23 ground stations that help Starlink maintain satellite services.

As it stands, the Brazilian Supreme Court has upheld the X ban with a majority vote. X will have the right to appeal the decision.

Readwrite has contacted Starlink for comment on the ongoing circumstances.

Featured image: Jorge Silva/Reuters

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