Elon's Musk Starlink Satellite service is being used by Iran's protest movement to bypass the regime's internet ban. Although recent reports show that Iranian authorities have been able to block the service locally in some instances.

Tehran

Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has become a crucial tool for Iranians seeking to communicate during periods of government-imposed internet blackouts. The service operates via a network of thousands of low-orbit satellites, allowing users to connect even in areas without traditional infrastructure.

Iranian authorities have responded by attempting to track and block Starlink users, particularly during recent protests. The service's use in other conflict zones, such as Ukraine, and public support from figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk, have further highlighted its global impact and the ongoing debate over internet freedom and surveillance.

What is Starlink, the satellite service Iranians use to post?

Whether in a remote Amazon village, on the front line in Ukraine, or on the streets with Iran's protest movement, Elon Musk's Starlink allows fast internet access, even in areas that don't have fibre optic cables or phone signal. It's based on a simple idea. After subscribing to the service, the user installs a small satellite dish on their roof and a router box. With that, they're connected to the world. The signal is carried by a network of thousands of satellites launched by Starlink, a constellation that flies low in orbit, at around 500 kilometres above our heads. The service is useful for those taking part in clandestine activities, as the information sent by Starlink is difficult to intercept as it bypasses local networks, but it is possible to block the signal locally with a jamming device. In Iran, where the authorities have cut the internet during recent protests, the regime has been tracking down Starlink users via radio frequencies, aiming to prevent them from spreading images of state-organised repression. While Starlink allows communication to bypass state surveillance, the information passes through the firm of the richest man in the world. Starlink also came to attention for its use in Ukraine, following Russia's invasion of the country in 2022. Initially, SpaceX funded the service, but the US Department of Defence later took over the payments. Donald Trump has implied that Washington could do the same in Iran. Well, we're going to be talking about that. We may get the internet going, if that's possible. We may speak to Elon, because as you know, he's very good at that kind of thing. On X, his social media network, Musk has directly criticised Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in a message that's been retweeted more than 30,000 times, seeming to take the side of the country's protest movement as it calls for regime change.

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