KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Elon Musk said on Saturday that his company SpaceX had throttled the Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine, disrupting operations that the country relies on to defend itself against Russia.
Musk’s admission on social media came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine’s access to Starlink and Starshield satellite links has been restored to the speeds it had before restrictions that disrupted front-line operations for more than a week.
Questions have persisted since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Musk-made satellite internet system that Kyiv has relied on for years to counter Moscow’s attacks.
“The speeds are now where they need to be,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, adding that restoration began overnight and were sufficient by Saturday morning, improving front-line logistics and defense against Russian jet-powered Shahed drones.
Business leaders have always had tremendous power, and I’m sure many on this board are aware of how American business leaders like Kennedy and Ford tried to influence wars past.
But still… holy fuck.
It’s fortunate that Starlink-esque technology is being developed in other places, because this is a monopoly that need to be fucking gone if a single, unstable ketamine addict can unilaterally decide that he’s going to hamstring a whole-ass country.
💯% it’s absolutely one of the big Reasons I’m seriously looking at meshtastic mesh core or Halow. And getting involved with Community networking here in the Kansas City area. The sooner the better. And even if it’s not high bandwidth it’s something.
That’s great to hear.
I’ve also been encouraged to read about similar technology in the works in other countries plus pushes in various countries to repatriate their data and tech use away from US tech companies.
Yes. Though it’s not just US companies. though it’s a traditionally large target for good reason. Anyone using any technology they don’t have any real claim to or sovereignty over is a problem. China, US, etc etc etc.
Business leaders have always had tremendous influence. This is a form of power that is usually borne out in lobbying/bribery.
This is a different form of power. Elon is literally calling the shots during an active war. This is more akin to a unelected Worldwide War Czar.
The two I offered up in comparison, Ford and Kennedy, acted similarly, going rogue and trying to collaborate with Nazis. It’s not without historical precedent.
Yes, Ford is the most common example that is known about. He and many other wealthy US industrialists gave material support to both the Nazi and Fascist Italy.
If during WWII Ford used his influence to change how the allied troops could fight, for example, finding a way to withhold needed parts during wartime to prevent an offensive. Then we would be getting closer.
No, there really hasn’t been anything like this in the past.
You’re misrepresenting my argument, but that’s okay.
Have a nice Sunday.
I am having a conversation, you are making this needlessly confrontational.