Russian troops are said to have been using SpaceX’s Starlink terminal Gain internet access in an ongoing war that has caused hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides. Now, House Democrats are finally asking SpaceX leadership tough questions about how this happened, according to an open letter published Thursday.
A letter written by some top Democrats in the House of Representatives to SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell stated: Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet access This is considered critical to Ukraine’s ability to continue resisting Russia’s invasion starting in February 2022.
this Letter from DemocratsThe committee, led by Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Robert Garcia of California, stressed that Russia’s use of Starlink technology “may violate U.S. sanctions and export controls.”
this wall street journal The Russian military first reported on February 15 that the Russian military had been using Starlink Internet for “quite some time,” according to Ukrainian Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov.
Russia is believed to be purchasing Starlink terminals from black market sellers, who sometimes pose as German appliance manufacturers. Magazine, but SpaceX leaders must have had a good understanding of who and how Russian illegal actors might be using these terminals.For example, Musk shut down Starlink access to Ukraine-controlled devices in Crimea early warOstensibly to prevent the conflict from “escalating”.
“Alarmingly, Russia may be acquiring and using your technology to coordinate attacks on Ukrainian forces in illegally occupied areas of eastern and southern Ukraine, potentially violating U.S. sanctions and export controls,” the Democrats wrote in the new letter. .”
The letter even quotes SpaceX CEO Musk, who previously said: “[t]As far as we know, no Starlink has been sold directly or indirectly to Russia. ” But Democrats noted that Ukraine’s military has called Russia’s use of Starlink “systemic,” raising questions about whether Starlink was responsible in all this.
“We are concerned that you do not have appropriate safeguards and policies in place to ensure that your technology is not unlawfully acquired or used by Russia,” the letter warned.
The letter concludes by asking SpaceX seven questions about Starlink and Russia’s use of satellite technology:
- How many reports or complaints has SpaceX received about the possible illegal acquisition, trade, or use of Starlink terminals, including in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory? How many reports or complaints has SpaceX reviewed?
- How does SpaceX evaluate, review, or evaluate reports or complaints related to the possible illegal acquisition, trade, or use of Starlink terminals, including in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine?
- What instructions and/or policies does SpaceX have to prevent the illegal acquisition, trade, or use of Starlink terminals?
- If SpaceX determines that an actor has illegally obtained, traded, or used a Starlink terminal, what instructions and/or policies will it follow?
- What actions is SpaceX taking to ensure that Starlink users comply with U.S. sanctions and export control laws, including those related to Russia?
- What actions has SpaceX taken or is considering taking to eliminate existing or potential security vulnerabilities that actors such as Russia could exploit to illegally acquire, trade, or use Starlink terminals, including in Russian-occupied Ukraine?
- How do SpaceX and its subsidiaries work with the Departments of Justice, Commerce, and/or Treasury to prevent the illegal acquisition, trade, or use of satellite terminals, including on Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory?
Democrats have given SpaceX until March 20 to respond. SpaceX did not immediately respond to emailed questions Thursday afternoon. We will update this article if we receive a response.
