Key Highlights
- Elon Musk has deployed Starlink survive in Iran amid internet restrictions in the country.
- The Iranian government had cut off internet access for many of its citizens amid widespread protests over the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody.
CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, has deployed his satellite-based Starlink service in Iran amid widespread protests in the country, after which authorities restricted internet access.
According to the reports, the Iranian government had cut off internet access for many of its citizens amid widespread protests over the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody.
On 23rd September, SpaceX founder Elon Musk indicated that he would make Starlink available in Iran.
Earlier, US State Secretary Antony Blinken announced on Twitter about advancing internet freedom and the free flow of information for the Iranian people by issuing a General License to provide them access to digital communications to counter, what he claimed, was the censorship of the Iranian government.
Protestors have been demanding the basic rights of freedom and holding demonstrations against the mandatory dress codes, including the compulsory wearing of the Hijab.
Last week, the protests in Iran erupted after Mahsa Amini died following her detainment by Iran’s morality police. She died a few days after falling into a coma while being detained on an accusation of violating a law concerning hijabs.
Earlier this week, it was noted that lawmakers from New York and New Jersey had urged the US Treasury Department to approve if SpaceX sought to license permission to make internet service available in Iran.
Fox News had reported that Lawmakers, led by Claudia Tenney of New York and Tom Malinowski of New Jersey, reportedly appealed to the Treasury Department. The letter came after Musk tweeted that SpaceX would seek exemptions from sanctions on the country.
In the past, SpaceX has deployed Starlink in emergencies, such as in Ukraine after Russia invaded and in the South Pacific islands of Tonga after a volcanic eruption.
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