How Elon Musk’s Starlink is changing American foreign policy

As Venezuela and Iran grapple with immense political tumult, Starlink has become a lifeline for internet access. Iranian activists have disseminated images of troops suppressing protestors by connecting to Starlink, while Venezuelans are relying on the service to get information on President Nicolás Maduro’s removal. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is offering free internet service in the two countries to those who can get their hands on the company’s terminals, which connect users to the thousands of Starlink satellites that orbit 342 miles above the Earth. Internet access can fuel massive political shifts—social media was a crucial organizing tool during the Arab Spring in 2011. Yet lawmakers here and abroad have raised concerns about how Starlink gives Musk considerable influence over conflict zones, not least after his company sent terminals to Ukraine to ensure connectivity for the country’s military.