In a recent announcement, Elon Musk stated that he is going to be activating his Starlink satellite internet service throughout Iran in the wake of the nation’s government shutting down communications services in response to recent and ongoing protests.
Musk issued his statement to the public this past Friday in the wake of a recent policy change made by the Treasury Department that same day which let companies set up online services in Iran despite the insane government crackdown because of protests.
“We took action today to advance Internet freedom and the free flow of information for the Iranian people, issuing a General License to provide them greater access to digital communications to counter the Iranian government’s censorship,” explained Secretary of State Antony Blinken via a Friday social media post.
“Activating Starlink…” stated Musk in response.
Activating Starlink …
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 23, 2022
Wally Adeyemo, the Deputy Treasury Secretary, also highlighted that this recent move from the U.S. government would only result in an increase in the overall options for internet communications for the Iranian people.
“As courageous Iranians take to the streets to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, the United States is redoubling its support for the free flow of information to the Iranian people,” expressed Adeyemo in a statement issued to Reuters.
“With these changes, we are helping the Iranian people be better equipped to counter the government’s efforts to surveil and censor them,” he went on.
Starlink, which is part of SpaceX headed up by Musk, is a group that offers low-orbit satellite internet services to the public in areas that do not support more traditional mobile telecommunications access. Previously, Musk issued his support, via the Starlink system, to the people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country back in February.
Ukraine officially announced that it had gotten its first shipment of terminals to access Starlink near the end of February after a government official from Ukraine had reached out to the billionaire via social media, writing: “@elonmusk, while you try to colonize Mars — Russia try to occupy Ukraine! While your rockets successfully land from space — Russian rockets attack Ukrainian civil people! We ask you to provide Ukraine with Starlink stations and to address sane Russians to stand.”
“Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,” answered Musk.
Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 26, 2022
The recent series of events in Iran kicked off heavy protesting which has only escalated in the wake of the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Amini. She died a short few days after being arrested in the wake of allegations of improperly wearing a hijab, which is the traditional Islamic headscarf required for women in the country.
Government officials state that the woman died from a heart attack, but many of her family members maintain that she was badly beaten while in custody.
The ensuing protests had led to many more arrests as women started to burn their hijabs in public, with many cutting their hair in direct opposition to the actions taken by the government. As a result of the recent police crackdowns, almost a dozen people have been killed by police forces.
