Tensions escalated between Brazil and Elon Musk’s business empire on Monday (September 02), as the country’s telecom regulator threatened to sanction his satellite broadband company, Starlink.
The news comes hours after the Supreme Court upheld a controversial decision to ban his social network X from the country.
The court ruled it allowed the spread of hate messages and falsehoods about Brazil’s electronic voting system that undermined the country’s democracy.
On Monday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told CNN Brazil they don’t need to put up with musk ideology because he is rich
“The Brazilian judiciary may have given an important signal that the world is not obliged to put up with Musk’s far-right ideology just because he is rich,” President Lula stated.
In response to the judge’s earlier move to freeze Starlink’s accounts for possible use to pay fines owed by X, Musk threatened reciprocal asset seizures in Brazil, but did not say how.
Starlink on Monday again found itself in Brazilian authorities’ crosshairs after refusing to comply with an order for all internet providers to block domestic access to X.
This lead telecommunications regulator Anatel to threaten sanctions for noncompliance, which could include revoking its operating license.
Anatel is also inspecting all telecom operators for compliance, with Starlink being the only one that’s not cooperating.
The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Earlier, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld X’s suspension for failing to appoint a local legal representative.
With 21.5 million users, Brazil is the social network’s sixth-largest market.
