Brazil’s telecoms regulator has threatened sanctions against Elon Musk’s satellite internet company Starlink, amid an escalating conflict with the Brazilian tech giant over the country’s decision to block his social media company X.
Last week, Brazil’s Supreme Court issued a nationwide suspension against Mr X for failing to appoint a legal representative within a court-set deadline in accordance with Brazilian law. The decision was upheld by a panel of Federal Court judges on Monday.
Brazil’s telecommunications regulator Anatel has received a court order to instruct internet providers to block access to X. Anatel Commissioner Arthur Coimbra said: Reuters Starlink is the only company to have told regulators it won’t comply with the court’s ruling.
In another interview CNN Brazil Coimbra said on Monday that Anatel is investigating Starlink and other network operators for potential violations. Failure to comply with the court’s order to block Company X could result in several sanctions, including fines and the revocation of licenses to operate in Brazil, he said.
CNBC has reached out to Anatel for comment.
The dispute between Musk and Brazil is over, with X representing said The company said the court decision had forced it to block certain popular accounts. Shortly after, Musk said the restrictions were lifted. Urged If the social network is banned, users will have to download a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access X.
The conflict has intensified as Brazil prepares for municipal elections in October, and social networks are required by law to employ people who can receive and review government takedown notices about political misinformation.
Company X announced last month that it was withdrawing all of its employees from Brazil amid continuing tensions, triggering the latest legal battle, although the company has no such employees in Brazil.
Top judges
The targeting of Starlink has intensified the dispute between Musk and Brazil, stoking conflict between the billionaire and Brazil in particular. Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court judge responsible for banning X.
Starlink said last week at X The company said it had received an order from Moraes “to freeze Starlink’s finances and prohibit the company from conducting any financial transactions in the country.”
Last week, X Accused Moraes threatened to jail the social network’s legal representatives, and the company’s global government relations team posted on X that all of the legal representatives’ bank accounts had been frozen following his resignation.
Musk has repeatedly attacked Moraes as an “evil tyrant” and called for him to be jailed, and has criticised the Brazilian court’s decision as censorship.
CNBC reached out to Brazil’s Supreme Court but did not immediately receive comment.
– CNBC’s Laura Kolodny contributed to this report.
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