Despite US sanctions, Russia using Starlink "to coordinate attacks" in Ukraine.

Democratic lawmakers are probing SpaceX over Russia’s reported use of Starlink in Ukraine, saying that recent developments raise questions about SpaceX’s “compliance with US sanctions and export controls.”

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk last month denied what he called “false news reports [that] claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia,” saying that, “to the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.” But Musk’s statement didn’t satisfy US Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), who sent a letter to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell yesterday.

“Starlink is an invaluable resource for Ukrainians in their fight against Russia’s brutal and illegitimate invasion. It is alarming that Russia may be obtaining and using your technology to coordinate attacks against Ukrainian troops in illegally occupied regions in Eastern and Southern Ukraine, potentially in violation of US sanctions and export controls,” Raskin and Garcia wrote.

Musk has also stated that “Starlink satellites will not close the link in Russia.” However, the concerns raised by Rankin and Garcia are about whether Russia used the broadband service in Ukraine. Their letter said that Ukraine last month “released intercepted audio communications between Russian soldiers that indicated Russian forces had illegally deployed and activated Starlink terminals in certain Russian-occupied areas in Eastern Ukraine.”

    • BossDj@lemm.eeEnglish
      812·
      9 months ago

      More accurate TLDR of the article: He did explicitly deny it to an ally. Ukraine asked for it to be activated in Crimea and he said no.

      Whether he should have or not is up to interpretation. He claimed that US sanctions didn’t allow it, but another time said he was preventing war. Why he gets to decide at all is ???.

      • Thorny_Insight@lemm.eeEnglish
        850·
        9 months ago

        He didn’t say he was preventing a war. Those are Isaacson’s words, not Elon’s. What Elon said is that enabling it would make SpaceX explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation. He also added that if the US government had reached out and told him to enable it he would have done so but they didn’t.

    • Endorkend@kbin.social
      433·
      9 months ago

      TL Actually read it, Yes.

      I didn’t say he deactivated it.

      I said he specifically declined to activate it for Ukraine when requested.

      He makes no such qualms about Russia using his service.

      • Thorny_Insight@lemm.eeEnglish
        942·
        9 months ago

        The question in the title is: “Did Elon Musk Turn Off Starlink Access in Crimea To Disrupt Ukrainian Attack?”

        The answer is no.

          • Bimfred@lemmy.worldEnglish
            78·
            9 months ago

            If you’re gonna hate someone, hate them for what they actually did, not for what their detractors want you to think they did.

            Modern news media is fucking awash with cleverly worded half truths that are repeated so often, by so many who don’t take a moment for critical thought, that they become almost a rallying cry. It’s Hunter’s Laptop all over again, but aimed at the left.

        • Triteer@lemmy.worldEnglish
          201·
          9 months ago

          Why tf did you post that article if not to refute the assertion that he denied service? It doesn’t matter what the title of the article you posted is if it’s a total non-sequitur.

          • Thorny_Insight@lemm.eeEnglish
            427·
            9 months ago

            The vast majority of people are under the impression that Elon disabled Starlink there and when someone makes a comment like the one I replied to this is what they’re thinking about. The article I linked is there to educate these people. I’d be willing to bet that the person I was replying to was under this same impression aswell but obviously I can’t be sure about that. Only he knows.

        • my_hat_stinks@programming.devEnglish
          142·
          9 months ago

          It’s a bit of a non-sequitur though, the context was denying service to an ally not cutting off existing service to Crimea. It’s like if someone asked “Have you ever shaken a baby” and you respond “I have never kicked this baby!”. Sure, it’s good that you haven’t kicked a baby, but that’s just not the question.

    • wahming@monyet.ccEnglish
      413·
      9 months ago

      That’s an interesting clarification. Never heard about it (and I’m guessing most other people didn’t either)

      • w2tpmf@lemmy.worldEnglish
        518·
        9 months ago

        That’s how propaganda works.

        Absolutely true facts can be published, but simply picking and choosing certain details to withhold completely changes the story.

        So pretty much what the vast majority of main stream media news does every day.

        • Sybil@lemmy.worldEnglish
          127·
          9 months ago

          careful being so media savvy. you are going to be accused of siding with putin and hamas soon.