Ukraine: SpaceX takes steps to prevent military use of Starlink


Samir Rahmoun

February 09, 2023 at 3:15 p.m.

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Starlink © © SpaceX

© SpaceX

SpaceX, the company that offers the Starlink satellite internet service, does not want it to be used for military purposes.

With the Russian invasion in Ukraine and the strikes on infrastructure, internet connections have been greatly affected in the country. So much so that a service like Starlink has become vital in more ways than one, and is even used for military offensives. Which upsets the company founded by Elon Musk.

Starlink must not be weaponized

Are we heading towards a new controversy concerning Starlink and Ukraine? We remember that last fall, Elon Musk explained that providing this service on behalf of kyiv cost him too much. After a few heated exchanges, the situation had returned to normal, to the point where 10,000 additional antennas will quickly reach Ukrainian soil.

Yes, but lo and behold, these antennas were never intended to be used as a weapon “, has just recalled Gwynne Shotwell, the president of SpaceX. Indeed, the Ukrainians would use the service to control drones intended as much to spot the enemy as to carry out long-range shots or to drop bombs.

SpaceX took countermeasures

A breach of agreement for Gwynne Shotwell. Because if the use of Starlink for communications between soldiers does not bother the American company, it does not want to see its service being exploited for offensive actions. Reason why SpaceX is taking steps to end this misuse.

There are things we can do to limit their ability to [user militairement de Startlink] “, thus explained Gwynne Shotwell, on the occasion of a conference organized in the city of Washington. ” There are things we can do, and have done “, she added, slightly sibylline. For the moment, no details have been given on the exact content of these countermeasures. The belligerent Russian, which has recognized the effectiveness of Starlink’s services, wants to develop similar technology.

Source : Reuters



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