Elon Musk’s SpaceX Under Investigation By Democrats Over Russia’s Alleged Starlink Use
ForbesFeb 26
Starlink Device Found in $4.2B Indian Drug Bust
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Above: A Starlink logo is seen displayed on a smartphone with an Indian flag in the background. Image copyright: Avishek Das/Contributor/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Facts
Police in India on Wednesday sent a legal notice to Starlink, requesting information about a Mini internet device made by the company which had been used by smugglers to navigate via international waters from Myanmar.
The device was specifically linked to a seizure last November, which saw Indian authorities take possession of more than 6K kg of methamphetamine — valued at $4.25B — from a Myanmar boat near the Andaman Islands.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Starlink poses significant risks due to its capacity for exploitation by criminal networks and authoritarian regimes, including Russian forces using it for military operations in Ukraine. Dictatorships (alongside organized crime groups) have leveraged similar technologies to achieve illicit goals, as seen in Russia's reliance on Kenyan gold trades to fund conflicts abroad. Bad actors will continue using Starlink to grow their power without the intervention of government oversight and safeguards.
Establishment-critical narrative
Despite its imperfections, Starlink has been a positive force in expanding internet access and enabling free speech globally. However, authoritarian regimes in the West, such as Brazil's Lula administration, have attempted to discredit and suppress the company. The irony lies in these nations, often backed by the US government, pivoting to Chinese alternatives. This isn't about combating organized crime but instead pushing for censorship and control.
