According to the New York Times, more and more politicians and world leaders are expressing concern about Elon Musk's domination of the world's satellite internet service. No government or rival company has built a satellite internet network as large as Musk's Starlink.
SpaceX has launched more than 42,000 satellites into orbit for Starlink, which provides internet access around the globe. The company faces little competition and oversight, raising concerns about Musk's unpredictable behavior, the New York Times reported.
Cybersecurity expert Dmitri Alperovitch – co-founder of Silverado Policy Accelerator – commented that Starlink is not just a company but also a person.
Starlink brings internet to remote, isolated areas and even conflict zones like Ukraine. While the billionaire has been praised for keeping war zones connected, some executives are concerned about how Musk will use his power and whether he will cut off internet access as quickly as he connects them.
Starlink’s service is limited by local regulations. It currently provides internet access in only 40 countries, mostly in Europe and Asia, according to its service map. But commercial satellite use in space is largely unregulated.
Musk has previously restricted Starlink access in certain areas, such as near the Crimean peninsula. Ukraine’s internet infrastructure was severely damaged. While some parts have been restored, much of the country still relies on Starlink for internet connectivity.
“Starlink is really the lifeblood of our entire communications infrastructure right now,” Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s digital minister, told the New York Times. At least nine other countries have expressed concerns about Starlink’s dominance, according to the newspaper.
(According to The Messenger)
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