Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, has announced that it will comply with an order from the Brazilian Supreme Court to block access to X (formerly Twitter) within Brazil. This comes after a tense standoff between Musk and Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who imposed restrictions on X for spreading misinformation and froze Starlink’s financial assets.

The Brazilian court's actions aim to pressure X into paying $3 million in fines for failing to block accounts flagged by the government. Initially, Starlink refused to comply with the block unless its financial assets were unfrozen. However, following the court's ruling, Starlink confirmed it would block X, though it condemned the ruling as illegal.

Despite Musk’s stance as a self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist,” Starlink is now forced to restrict X, putting the company in a contradictory position. On September 4th, internet service providers and app stores in Brazil must block access to X, with users who attempt to bypass the block through VPNs facing hefty fines. Starlink says it has initiated legal proceedings to challenge the court's decision and seeks to have its financial assets unfrozen.

The situation highlights ongoing tension over free speech, misinformation, and the regulatory power of governments over social media platforms.