India probes Musk’s Starlink over drug smugglers
Satellite network equipment has been seized by police and the military on a number of occasions in the country
Elon Musk’s Starlink is being investigated by the Indian government over the illegal use of the satellite network by what New Delhi describes as “unlawful elements,” according to the Times of India.
A number of devices powered by Starlink, which are not licensed for use in India, have found their way into the hands of “unlawful elements” and insurgents, attracting the attention of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Telecom, sources told the newspaper.
The government took action when it discovered that these devices had allegedly been smuggled into India from Myanmar.
The probe began after the Indian Coast Guard seized 6,000kg of methamphetamines from a Myanmarese crew near India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands in November, the report said. A police official told the media that the smugglers had used phones and satellites to create a WiFi hotspot.
When asked by the Indian government to provide information on the ownership of the equipment, Starlink refused, citing data privacy laws, sources told the Times of India. The company has not responded to queries from media outlets on the issue.
In December, Starlink devices were seized by security forces in Manipur, a state in the northeast of India, which has been in the news since May 2023 due to deadly ethnic clashes.
Acting on specific intelligence, troops of #IndianArmy and #AssamRifles formations under #SpearCorps carried out joint search operations in the hill and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Imphal East and Kagpokpi in #Manipur, in close coordination with… pic.twitter.com/kxy7ec5YAE
— SpearCorps.IndianArmy (@Spearcorps) December 16, 2024
Commenting on the army’s post on X, Musk denied the allegations. “This is false. Starlink satellite beams are turned off over India.”
Although the Starlink service is not legally authorized to operate in India due to security concerns, it is permitted in neighboring Myanmar, which borders Manipur. Starlink is seeking to enter the Indian market, which has a population of 1.4 billion. The company has applied for an Indian licence. Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said in November that the company was in the process of complying with security requirements, a key condition set by the government.
Last week, The Guardian reported, citing multiple sources from both armed groups and law enforcement, that Starlink had been operational in several parts of Manipur. A leader from one of the groups engaged in the conflict, the People’s Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA), revealed to the outlet that Starlink devices had been used by the group to maintain internet access in Manipur, which has been blocked by the authorities as part of efforts to curb violence.