Iran bans Elon Musk’s Starlink, users now face prison, fines, even flogging

As Iran's tensions deepen with the West, the Middle Eastern country's parliament has voted to ban Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service in the country after the United States and Israeli airstrikes, as per a report.

Iran Moves to Ban Elon Musk’s Starlink, Final Approval Expected Soon

The new law, which Iran's Guardian Council is expected to approve within days, also made stricter espionage rules, targeting foreign-backed dissent, as reported by Newsweek. While the final approval is pending, the move shows Tehran's growing alarm over Starlink's role as a digital lifeline during internet blackouts and a potent symbol in its information war with the West, according to the Newsweek report.

If the ban is approved, then the users of the SpaceX-operated satellite service will face penalties of fines, flogging, or up to two years in prison if they are caught, as per the report.


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Why Is Starlink Under Fire?

The Middle Eastern country's latest legislation increases the state's powers over digital and foreign-linked activities, like criminalising Starlink, and introducing sweeping penalties for espionage and cooperation with foreign adversaries, as reported by Newsweek. The new Iranian law defines "operational cooperation" with countries like the U.S. and Israel as "corruption on earth", which is a capital offence, reported Newsweek. The list of offences includes actions like cyberattacks, use of drones or sabotage tools, and accepting funds from foreign intelligence, even without taking action, according to the report.

The Starlink ban reflects how private tech companies like Starlink get indirectly involved during a global conflict, as this law came after the United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, the move highlights how satellite internet is now a tool of modern warfare and a threat for governments like Iran's, as reported by Newsweek.

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Starlink’s Role During Blackouts

While, the exact numbers of Starlink users remain unclear, as per the images circulated online throughout 2024 showed Starlink dishes installed on rooftops across Iran, often in direct defiance of strict local laws, according to the report. Iranian tech outlet Zoomit wrote that the "equipment costs range from $673 to $3,367, with monthly fees around $40, making the service unaffordable for most Iranians," as quoted by Newsweek.

This comes as Iranians depend on VPNs and other tools to bypass restrictions and access the outside world due to massive government censorship and widespread internet blackouts, as per the report. For many Iranians, Starlink had emerged as one of the few reliable options during these shutdowns, offering a critical lifeline for protesters and dissidents, as reported by Newsweek.

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FAQs

Why is Iran banning Starlink now?
Because of growing tensions with the US and Israel, and fears that Starlink is helping citizens bypass government censorship and surveillance, as per the Newsweek report.

What happens if someone in Iran uses Starlink?
If the law is finalized, they could face serious penalties—fines, prison time, or even flogging, as per the Newsweek report.