Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is facing growing regulatory challenges in India after its communication devices were found in the possession of insurgents and smugglers.
The discovery has raised concerns within India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), particularly regarding the potential use of these devices for illegal activities.
The situation escalated when authorities uncovered Starlink satellite communication devices during a significant drug bust in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, where smugglers were found to be using the satellite internet services for navigation.
Why has Starlink refused information to the govt?Despite requests from the Indian government for information about the original purchasers of these devices, Starlink has refused to comply, citing data privacy laws. A source within the government confirmed that the MHA has now directed the DoT to take "appropriate steps" to address the matter.
"After the recovery of these devices in the hands of drug smugglers in the Andamans, the government asked Starlink about the ownership details, but the company declined, citing data privacy laws," the source revealed.
The investigation into the recent drug bust, which involved the seizure of 6,000kg of methamphetamine, highlighted that smugglers from Myanmar were using Starlink's satellite services to set up Wi-Fi hotspots, further complicating the situation. The DGP of Andamans, Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, confirmed that the smugglers had operated satellite phones to create these hotspots.
In addition to the drug smuggling case, Starlink devices have also been found in the hands of insurgents in the northeastern state of Manipur.
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