Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk, announced on Tuesday that it will adhere to a directive from a Brazilian Supreme Court justice to block access to Musk's social media platform, X.

In a statement shared on X, Starlink confirmed its intention to comply with Justice Alexandre de Moraes’ order, despite the fact that he had previously frozen the company’s assets. Initially, Starlink had indicated to the telecommunications regulator that it would not follow the order until de Moraes retracted it.

The company’s statement read, “Despite the unlawful freezing of our assets, we are complying with the directive to restrict access to X in Brazil. We are actively exploring all legal options, as are others who believe that @alexandre’s recent ruling contravenes the Brazilian constitution.”

Last week, de Moraes froze Starlink’s accounts to compel the company to pay fines imposed on X, which have surpassed $3 million, arguing that both entities belong to the same economic group. Starlink has filed an appeal, as confirmed by its law firm Veirano to the Associated Press on August 30, but has not provided further comments since then.

Shortly thereafter, the justice mandated the suspension of X for its failure to appoint a local legal representative, a requirement for receiving court notifications and taking necessary actions, such as removing accounts. A Supreme Court panel unanimously upheld the suspension on Monday, challenging Musk and his supporters' attempts to portray the justice as an authoritarian figure aiming to suppress political discourse in Brazil.

Arthur Coimbra, a board member of the telecommunications regulator Anatel, stated during a video call from his office in Brasilia that if Starlink had continued to disregard de Moraes by maintaining access, Anatel could have ultimately confiscated equipment from Starlink’s 23 ground stations, which are essential for ensuring the quality of its internet service.

Legal experts have already raised concerns regarding the legitimacy of de Moraes’ decision to freeze Starlink’s accounts, particularly since its parent company, SpaceX, operates independently from X. Musk pointed out on X that the two entities have distinct shareholder structures.

X has been at odds with de Moraes due to its hesitance to block users, primarily far-right activists accused of threatening Brazilian democracy and supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. The platform has claimed that de Moraes seeks an in-country legal representative to enable Brazilian authorities to exert control over the company by having an individual available for arrest. Musk has been vocally critical of de Moraes in recent days, labeling him a criminal.

“This evil tyrant is a disgrace to judges’ robes,” Musk remarked on X, accompanied by a photo of de Moraes, approximately 17 hours before Starlink announced its compliance with the order.

Since the announcement, Musk has refrained from commenting on the company’s operations in Brazil.

This change in stance is welcomed by many in Brazil who rely on Starlink for internet access. The company has reported over 250,000 customers in the country, with a significant number located in remote areas lacking fast internet options.

Prior to the advent of Starlink, many regions relied on slow and unreliable fixed antenna systems for internet access. The introduction of easy-to-install kits and high-quality connections has revolutionized communication in certain communities, achieving speeds that even outpace those found in major cities within the Amazon.

The Forest People Connection initiative, established in 2022 with Starlink terminals donated by Musk, has successfully reached 1,014 remote communities, including those inhabited by riverine and Indigenous populations, such as the Yanomami. Residing in a remote area of Brazil's rainforest, they previously endured a significant health crisis, but now benefit from Starlink-enabled telemedicine consultations and dependable communication for the urgent transport of patients.

However, enhanced connectivity has also inadvertently facilitated illegal activities, including gold mining.

While Brazil's extensive rural and forested regions present a significant growth opportunity for Starlink, its actual presence is not as extensive as Musk has suggested. Recently, he shared a post highlighting his meeting with Bolsonaro in 2022, where they purportedly announced a partnership to provide Starlink to 19,000 schools. Musk promoted this agreement on X at that time.

In reality, it has not materialized. As of March 2023, SpaceX and the communications ministry had not finalized any contracts, and only three terminals had been deployed in Amazonian schools for a trial period of 12 months. The ministry's press office did not respond promptly to an AP inquiry regarding updates on these contracts. Brazil's education ministry clarified that individual states are responsible for establishing contracts with internet service providers.

Since launching operations in Brazil in January 2022, Starlink has secured a mere 0.5 percent share of the internet market, significantly lagging behind the leading providers, according to Anatel.

Despite Starlink's withdrawal and its announcement to block X, Musk's recent boldness has elevated his status among supporters, according to Marietje Schaake, the international policy director at the Stanford University Cyber Policy Center.

“The clash between de Moraes and Musk highlights the significant influence and provocative nature of today's tech leaders,” Schaake noted, who is also the author of the upcoming book “The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley.”

“Brazil will not be the final nation to demand accountability or establish regulatory measures.”