Elon Musk Uses Starlink to Bypass Brazil’s X Ban, Pitting Satellite Technology Against Government Orders

The Brazilian Supreme Court's decision to ban X continues to generate consequences and make waves. According to The New York Times, X owner Elon Musk has escalated his fight against Brazilian rule of law by challenging it through Starlink.

Why it matters. This tussle between the billionaire and Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court could set a precedent on the scope of government power and Big Tech in the digital age.

In perspective. Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet service, has 250,000 customers in Brazil. The company recently told the Brazilian telecom regulator that it won’t comply with orders to block X in the country.

Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes banned X for refusing to suspend accounts accused of spreading disinformation. Musk responded defiantly, suggesting that Brazilians use VPNs to bypass the block. Starlink, which operates via satellite, doesn’t have centralized infrastructure in the country, so it can refuse, at least technically, to comply with the order.

In detail.

• Starlink could lose its license in Brazil, which is predictably the next step...
• ...but its satellite technology makes effective blocking difficult. With traditional wiring, it would have been much easier.
• The service has had a notable impact in remote areas of Brazil, especially in the Amazon.
• Musk controls X and Starlink, so he has a high level of power in this dispute.

The context. The dispute began when Musk criticized Moraes’ orders to suspend certain accounts on X, accusing him of censorship. The conflict escalated with millions of dollars in fines and threats of arrest against X’s representatives in Brazil. The war has dragged on.

The confrontation goes beyond Brazil. It raises questions about digital sovereignty in an era of global platforms and satellite connectivity.

• If Musk bypasses Brazil’s regulations, he’ll set a precedent for creating similar challenges in other countries.
• This situation would trigger a domino effect that would redefine the balance of power between nations and Big Tech.
• Starlink’s ability to operate without physical infrastructure in Brazil indicates an unprecedented scenario for regulators.

The bottom line. The outcome of this battle will affect Brazil and Musk’s companies and rewrite some of the rules of Internet regulation worldwide.

The implications will impact freedom of expression, content moderation, copyright, national sovereignty, and corporate power.

Image | Daniel Oberhaus

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