- Title: Brazil judge blocks accounts of Musk's Starlink on platform X's case
- Date: 29th August 2024
- Summary: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (AUGUST 29, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SCULPTURE REPRESENTING LAW AND JUSTICE BRAZIL’S SUPREME COURT BUILDING
- Embargoed: 12th September 2024 23:46
- Keywords: Alexandre de Moraes Brazil Elon Musk Starlink Supreme Court X social media
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Company News Markets,South America / Central America,Economic Events
- Reuters ID: LVA007020329082024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Brazil's Supreme Court blocked the bank accounts of tycoon Elon Musk's Starlink internet firm on Thursday (August 29), while an underlying feud leaves his social media platform X on the brink of being shuttered in the country as a deadline looms.
Starlink is the satellite internet service of rocket technology company SpaceX, all part of Musk's sprawling business empire which also includes electric car giant Tesla. The billionaire is the chief executive of both X and Tesla TSLA.O.
The internet company confirmed it received an order from the judge that prevents the company from conducting financial transactions in Brazil and said in a post on X that it would respond to the order.
Signed by Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, the court's decision to sanction Starlink is a response to the lack of legal representatives in Brazil for X, a Supreme Court source told Reuters.
The decision to freeze Starlink's accounts also stems from a separate dispute over unpaid fines that X was ordered to pay due to its failure to turn over some documents. Local newspaper Folha has reported the fines total at least 20 million reais ($3.6 million), but Reuters was not able to confirm the amount.
The Supreme Court said that the time allowed for Musk's popular social media platform to name its legal representative for Brazil would expire at 8:07 p.m. (2307 GMT) on Thursday.
At issue in the intensifying dispute is whether Moraes can order the social media platform to block certain accounts accused of spreading lies and distortions, a request Musk has denounced as censorship.
Late Wednesday, Moraes signed an order for X to name its legal representative or face suspension in the country.
In a post on X, Musk complained that Moraes "is an outright criminal of the worst kind, masquerading as a judge."
Starlink, in a separate post, accused the judge of secretly issuing the order without due process.
(Production: Ronay Galdino, Leonardo Benassatto, Anna Portella) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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