'Can't use it to kill people': Musk admits restricting Starlink in Ukraine
Elon Musk confirmed that SpaceX restricted Starlink satellite internet access for the Ukrainian military to prevent its use in offensive drone strikes. The move has caused tension between Kyiv and Washington, though Musk maintains that Starshield remains under US government control.
Why it matters
The incident raises critical questions about the power of private tech companies in modern warfare and the ethics of dual-use technology.
Elon Musk has acknowledged that his company, SpaceX, restricted Ukraine's Starlink satellite internet service last week, after Ukrainian officials said connectivity issues appeared to have been resolved.In a post on X on Saturday, the tech billionaire accused Ukraine's military of violating the service's terms by using it for offensive drone strikes. However, he denied responsibility for simultaneous disruptions to Starshield, the US government-controlled, military-grade satellite communication system that supports Ukraine's drone operations and communications."Using Starlink, a civilian commercial service, for offensive drone strikes to kill people has never been allowed, nor should it be," Musk wrote. "Ukraine military violated Starlink terms of service and used it for offensive drone strikes to kill people. That loophole was closed last week."Musk had earlier denied deliberately restricting Ukraine's connectivity, which Kyiv said had hampered its ability to conduct defensive operations for more than a week.
Headlinne story · 8 newsrooms
Elon Musk Admits SpaceX Throttled Starlink as Ukraine Connectivity Recovers
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