Brazil’s Supreme Court has blocked the bank accounts of Elon Musk’s Starlink amid a legal dispute involving his social media platform X. The court’s actions are part of Brazil’s crackdown on fake news, leading to escalating tensions between Musk and Brazilian authorities.

Brazil has escalated its conflict with Elon Musk by blocking the bank accounts of his satellite internet service, Starlink, amid an ongoing legal dispute involving the social media platform X. The Brazilian Supreme Court took action against Starlink on Thursday as part of its broader campaign against fake news and hate speech on social media.

Starlink’s Bank Accounts Frozen

The Supreme Court, led by Justice **Alexandre de Moraes**, froze Starlink’s bank accounts, alleging that the internet firm should be held accountable for fines imposed on X. The fines reportedly stem from X’s failure to provide certain documents requested by the Brazilian government. The penalties could amount to at least 20 million reais (around $3.6 million).

Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX, is a satellite internet provider delivering services to remote areas worldwide. It confirmed the court’s actions and stated that it had been ordered to cease all financial transactions in Brazil. The company criticized the decision as unconstitutional and vowed to challenge it legally.

Elon Musk’s Response

In response, Elon Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his displeasure, calling Justice de Moraes a “dictator” and condemning the court’s actions as illegal. Musk emphasized that SpaceX and X are separate entities, with different shareholders, and argued that punishing Starlink for the actions of X was unjust. Musk owns approximately 40% of SpaceX, the parent company of Starlink.

“This absolutely illegal action by the dictator @alexandre improperly punishes other shareholders and the people of Brazil,” Musk tweeted, expressing concern for the broader implications of the court’s ruling on his business interests in the country.

The Broader Dispute with X

The conflict between the Brazilian government and X has been ongoing, primarily revolving around fines levied against the social media platform for failing to comply with legal demands. The Brazilian Supreme Court had set a deadline for X to appoint a legal representative in Brazil, warning that failure to do so could result in the platform’s suspension within the country. The dispute underscores the tense relationship between Musk’s businesses and Brazilian authorities as they navigate issues of compliance, legal accountability, and the regulation of social media.

As this situation develops, it will likely have significant implications for Musk’s ventures in Brazil, particularly in how international businesses engage with local legal systems and government regulations.