Brazil top court unlocks Starlink, X bank account after $3.31mn fine payment

Brazil lifted its bans on Elon Musk’s X and Starlink on Friday after the companies paid fines totaling 18.35 million reais ($3.31 million) to the Brazilian authorities.

The blockages were lifted by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, following a dispute between the American billionaire and Brazil’s top court. X had been banned last month, and Justice Moraes had imposed a hefty $9,000 daily fine for anyone caught violating the ban through a VPN.

The feud between X and Moraes began when X claimed that its Brazilian representative was threatened with legal action by the Supreme Court judge if the company did not comply with orders to remove certain content.

“Moraes has chosen to threaten our staff in Brazil rather than respect the law or due process,” X’s Global Government Affairs account stated. “To ensure the safety of our staff, we have decided to close our operation in Brazil, effective immediately.”

Earlier this year, Moraes ordered X to remove accounts accused of spreading fake news and hate speech during former President Jair Bolsonaro’s regime. Musk opposed the order, calling it “unconstitutional,” and subsequently reinstated the banned accounts. This led to Moraes launching an inquiry into Musk.

Despite the legal tussle, Musk’s social media platform remains highly popular in Brazil, boasting over 22 million users. In comparison, only a fraction of that number are active on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.

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