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Starlink Provides Internet Access to Iran Amidst Protests and Government Shutdowns
SpaceX’s Starlink internet service is being used by people in iran to circumvent government-imposed internet shutdowns and communicate wiht the outside world, despite being officially banned in the country. This access has been crucial in sharing information about protests and a worsening human rights situation,according to activists. Elon Musk said in January 2023 that Starlink was available to Iranians.
Background: Internet Restrictions and Protests
The move to provide Starlink access followed a complete shutdown of telecommunications and internet access in Iran beginning on January 8, 2023, as protests escalated over the country’s struggling economy and the devaluation of its currency. These protests initially erupted in late December 2022, sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code.
How Starlink is Being Used in Iran
While SpaceX has not made an official declaration regarding ongoing free access, activists report that Starlink has been available to anyone in Iran with the necessary receiver equipment since january 2023. Mehdi Yahyanejad, of Net Freedom Pioneers, highlighted the impact of Starlink, stating that videos showing the high number of bodies at a forensic medical center near Tehran were disseminated thanks
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