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Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has lifted the freeze on the Starlink and X bank accounts. 

Before releasing the accounts, the judge ordered the transfer of 18.35 million reais ($3.3 million) from the companies' accounts to the Brazilian national treasury. These funds are intended to cover fines imposed by the court.

The fines stem from the companies' failure to comply with Brazilian court orders, including not appointing a local legal representative and failing to remove certain content from the platform that Justice de Moraes claims is spreading "fake news" and posing a threat to democracy.

Starlink and X Bank Accounts Unfrozen

Justice de Moraes imposed the fines as part of an ongoing legal dispute between Brazil’s Supreme Court and X owner, Elon Musk. The judge claims the fines were necessary due to Musk’s refusal to comply with court orders, including removing posts critical of the Brazilian government. The legal battles led to the total blackout of X in Brazil, the platform’s sixth-largest market.

Despite lifting the freeze on the companies' accounts, it remains unclear whether the bank account of X’s in-country representative, who resigned in early August, has been unfrozen.

X Still Banned in Brazil

While the bank accounts have been released, the Supreme Court has not lifted the ban on X in Brazil. According to the court, X has failed to address the lack of legal representation in the country and has not complied with content removal orders. These issues remain unresolved, keeping the social media platform blocked.

Justice de Moraes has emphasized the importance of these fines and actions, stating they are necessary to combat the spread of misinformation and protect Brazilian democracy.

Musk, however, has criticized the orders, referring to them as “political censorship” due to Brazil's election. Musk refused to appoint a new Brazilian representative since the judge threatened to jail the woman that previously held the position. He has challenged the court’s decisions.

Elon Musk, who owns both X and 40% of Starlink parent company SpaceX, is entangled in a bitter standoff with Justice de Moraes. The judge has spearheaded a campaign against fake news and hate speech in Brazil, targeting X for noncompliance with new laws.

Letter to End "Censorship Crisis"

The legal conflict has drawn international attention, with Musk's some high-profile Musk supporters signing an open letter to the Brazilian Congress on Thursday. 

The letter demands an end to the "censorship crisis" which has seen X banned nationwide in the South American country.

Notable academics, journalists, thought leaders and politicians condemn the suspension of X in Brazil.

Among the 100 signers are former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, former U.S. Ambassador and Senator Sam Brownback, Princeton Professor Robert P. George, women's sports activist Riley Gaines, historian David Starkey, Babylon Bee’s Seth Dillon, author and columnist Rod Dreher, X "Spaces" host Mario Nawfal, children's rights campaigner Chris Elston, aka "Billboard Chris," Singaporean activist Melissa Chen, as well as journalists and commentators Michael Shellenberger, Andy Ngo and Eva Vlaardingerbroek.