A recent investigation has revealed that the satellite internet service Starlink, owned by Elon Musk, is being exploited by criminal organizations operating modern slavery compounds in Myanmar. These compounds, where tens of thousands of individuals—many of them trafficked—are coerced into perpetrating online scams, have turned to Starlink to maintain internet connectivity after traditional access was cut off.
One chilling account from a Chinese victim trapped in a compound known as Tai Chang described how, after their internet access was severed, they discovered that Starlink had been installed above the buildings, allowing their captors to continue their fraudulent activities. The trafficked individuals are often lured under the guise of legitimate employment but are instead forced to work in grueling conditions, scamming people online for hours on end.
Erin West, a deputy district attorney in California, became aware of these issues through communications from victims. She reached out to SpaceX, urging them to intervene because the Starlink network was facilitating these scams. However, West reports that her correspondence went unanswered.
The investigation suggests that the utilization of Starlink is not limited to a single compound; at least eight other scam facilities across the Myanmar-Thailand border are similarly accessing the service. Mobile phone connection data indicates that these sites have logged over 40,000 interactions with Starlink. Despite the jurisdictional issues—Starlink is not officially licensed for use in Myanmar, and the military junta has reportedly banned it—criminogenic networks are still managing to operate.
According to Rangsiman Rome, a Thai politician, identifying compounds using Starlink could significantly hinder their operations. His calls for collaboration with SpaceX have also gone unanswered.
The ongoing use of Starlink involves navigating a regulatory quagmire, as the military government of Myanmar has instigated attempts to crack down on scams, leading to accidental rescues of trafficked individuals. However, funding cuts to support services for victims have resulted in further complications.
Humanitarian efforts employing Starlink in regions of conflict highlight the dilemma—while the technology is invaluable for rescue and aid work, it is also being co-opted by nefarious actors. As the ongoing conflict unfolds, various organizations and individuals are calling on Starlink to take definitive action against its misuse and take responsibility for its connections being exploited by these trafficking enterprises.
In summary, while efforts to shut down these operations have started, the widespread availability of Starlink appears to complicate enforcement efforts significantly. The dual-use of this technology underlines a pressing question: how can corporations be held accountable when their services inadvertently support criminal activity? For contexts like Myanmar, where physical infrastructure is severely inadequate, the implications of these technologies need thoughtful consideration and decisive action.
