Brazil unfreezes Elon Musk's X and Starlink assets after receiving $3.3 million payment

Just the News ^ | September 13, 2024 6:07pm | Misty Severi

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Brazil's Supreme Court on Friday restored access to the bank accounts and assets of Elon Musk's X and satellite company Starlink after the country's government received a $3.3 million payment.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes blocked the social media platform X last month after the company failed to name a new legal representative or remove certain content by the Brazilian court's deadline. 

De Moraes has claimed his actions to ban the platform were legal because of the country's requirement that foreign companies have representation in the country so they can be notified of any pending legal activities.

The justice unfroze the X and Starlink accounts after receiving approximately 7.2 million reais, which equals $1.3 million, from X, and roughly 11 million reais, or about $2 million, from Starlink, according to the Associated Press.

“After the payment of the full amount that was owed, justice (de Moraes) considered there was no need to keep the bank accounts frozen and ordered the immediate unfreezing of bank accounts/financial assets,” the Brazilian Supreme Court said.

The judge decided to collect the funds on Wednesday, and the companies were notified on Thursday, the outlet reported.

Musk has not commented on the reinstatement of the assets in the South America country, but previously framed X's suspension as a conflict over free speech and censorship.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

$3.3-million? Chump change for Musk.

It appears that de Moraes blinked.

[dadfly]

what was this? rent?

[Openurmind]

Extortion. Makes sense now. They are a mafia.

[SpaceBar]

Back in the day you had to kidnap the Lindbergh baby for that level of ransom.

[dadfly]

ah. ‘protection’ money. more things change, the more...

[MuttTheHoople]

It appears that de Moraes blinked.

Is he even capable of blinking?

[madprof98]

The announcement on X(Twitter) made it seem as if the Brazilian government just TOOK the money from the (frozen) accounts before restoring the status of Twitter and Starlink in that country. I doubt Elon Musk was even asked to consent.

[ridesthemiles]

I am thinking the same thing.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Musk should now reverse the satellites and turn on the space laser beams hidden within, to rain down on that justice’s house.

[Regulator]

Hey man, don’t talk about the space lasers!

Itza big secret!!

[KarlInOhio]

The justice unfroze the X and Starlink accounts

Time to repatriate those accounts. Musk shouldn't have any money in Brazil he isn't planning on spending there in the next day.

[joshua c]

tribute

you have to pay tribute to the bosses

[katana]

Having been there and having been in a car driven by my Brazilian mates that was stopped by the police on the way to the airport in Sao Paolo, all I can say is “Welcome to Brazil”.

[sjmjax]

10% to the Big Guys. How do you say that in Portuguese!?

[Gene Eric]

Hopefully the court will get a commission for its efforts

[Dr. Sivana]

Extortion. Makes sense now. They are a mafia.

Of a sort. A major theme of all three Godfather movies is that the government system shares attributes with the mob, and those who decided to be part of the mob could become wealthy (or shot dead) while besides paying off a few pols, had little to do with the "system".

From Godfather Part 2

GEARY Because I intend to squeeze you. I don't like your kind of people. I don't like to see you come out to this clean country in your oily hair [ . . . ] I'll do business with you, but the fact is, I despise your masquerade -- the dishonest way you pose yourself. Yourself, and your whole f****** family.

MICHAEL

SENATOR - we're both part of the same hypocrisy. But never think it applies to my family.

[Openurmind]

Thanks for sharing that. I wish Musk has just squeezed him back by threatening to shut off Starlink. This is a high stakes poker game.

[Sirius Lee]

Looks like Lex Luthor’s evil (more -evil) brother.