• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Elon Musk wants to use Starlink to help people in Iran after authorities shut down the internet

Home> News

Updated 02:04 23 Sep 2022 GMT+1Published 02:05 23 Sep 2022 GMT+1

Elon Musk wants to use Starlink to help people in Iran after authorities shut down the internet

Apps such as WhatsApp and Instagram have been blocked along with at least two major mobile networks.

Jayden Collins

Jayden Collins

Tesla CEO Elon Musk plans to provide Starlink satellite internet to Iran after authorities shut down services amid protests over the death of a 22-year-old in police custody.

Internet access watchdog Netblocks confirmed blocks to apps such as WhatsApp and Instagram along with at least two major mobile networks in the country. 

The restrictions come as the Iranian people demonstrate against the death of Mahsa Amini, who was detained by Iran’s morality police for not covering herself enough with a hijab.

She passed away on September 16 after being admitted to hospital by police three days earlier and placed into a coma. She was allegedly being beaten by authorities. 

Iranian officials maintain she had suffered an unrelated heart attack. 

Advert

As activists clashed in with police in the days following, Iran’s Telecommunications Minister Issa Zerepour warned of internet restrictions due to the ‘security issues of these days’, according to Daily Mail. 

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has since claimed that he wants to be exempt from such sanctions to provide Iran with his Starlink satellite internet.

Efran Kasraie, who describes themselves as a Persian-language journalist, tagged Musk in a tweet, asking: “I'm sure you won't answer it Mr Musk, but is it technically possible to provide Starlink to Iranian people? It could be a game changer for the future.”

The billionaire replied: “Starlink will ask for an exemption to Iranian sanctions in this regard.”

SpaceX has been expanding access to the high-speed internet service of SpaceX for several years now - most notably making it available to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.

Advert

With protests raging on and at least eight activists killed in the streets of Iran, as per Daily Mail, internet access provides an important tool to spread the message and news to the outside world.

Women in Iran are tearing off their mandatory headscarves, with videos showing some throwing their hijabs into a bonfire. 

Meanwhile, the United States Secretary of the Treasury has been urged by a group of lawmakers to allow Musk to operate in the heavily sanctioned country.

Advert

A letter was penned by several lawmakers, such as New York Republican Claudia Tenney, and New Jersey Democrat Tom Malinowski.

As per Bloomberg, they wrote: “If such a license request [from Musk] is submitted, we urge you to approve it immediately.”

They also asked for the Treasury to clarify its policies for providing access for communication in sanctioned countries.

In a statement, Tenney said: “Congress is calling on the Treasury Department to do everything in its power to help the Iranian people stay connected to the Internet.

Advert

“We need to cut through any bureaucratic red tape and get this done.”

Featured Image Credit: NTB Scanpix / Alamy. Stephen Chung / Alamy.

Topics: Iran, Elon Musk, Starlink, SpaceX

Jayden Collins
Jayden Collins

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Elon Musk launches $52,000,000 SpaceX rockets that could change how we use the internet forever
  • I, Robot director slams Elon Musk for plagiarizing his work and the internet agrees
  • Tesla top investor calls for Elon Musk to step down as CEO following $800,000,000,000 plunge since December
  • Elon Musk says he wants to 'die on Mars' in bizarre new interview with Trump

Choose your content:

4 mins ago
9 mins ago
an hour ago
  • 4 mins ago

    Christina Applegate shares devastating reason she gets up in the morning following MS diagnosis

    Christina Applegate has been speaking about about live with MS

    Celebrity
  • 9 mins ago

    Yellowstone actor reveals why he ‘lost everything’ after refusing to kiss another woman in movies or TV shows

    Neal McDonough has starred in plenty of big titles, but there was a period when he was in an 'ugly tail spin'

    Celebrity
  • an hour ago

    Ozzy Osbourne’s close friend reveals emotional final text he received before rock icon’s death

    Ozzy Osbourne’s close friend spoke about their relationship and final conversation

    Celebrity
  • an hour ago

    Jason Momoa leaves fans speechless after shaving off beard for first time in six years

    Jason Momoa has shaved his beard for the first time in six years to tell an important message

    Film & TV