(ConservativeHub.com) – Most Americans take unrestricted internet access for granted. Yet, throughout the world, many people aren’t so lucky. In Iran, the government has limited access to the web. However, Elon Musk and his Starlink internet service have worked to bring greater access to Iran in spite of this.
Approaching 100 Starlinks active in Iran
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 26, 2022
Starlink, a SpaceX product, provides satellite internet service to remote areas. Musk stated the company is close to having 100 terminals providing service in Iran as of December 26. The terminals, each providing service to 200 devices, must be on the ground around users to transmit the signals. But the government cannot restrict Starlink, which makes it incredibly attractive to citizens.
Elon Musk says around 100 Starlinks now active in Iran https://t.co/1jIi3EqSK5
— Reuters Iran (@ReutersIran) December 26, 2022
Iranian government control and censorship of the internet have magnified since Mahsa Amini died in police custody in September. The morality police arrested her because they said she wasn’t wearing her hijab properly. They claimed she died from a heart attack due to a pre-existing condition, but the 22-year-old’s family said she was in perfect health before the detainment. Protests broke out in reaction to the situation, prompting the government to cut internet access in hopes of disrupting communications between activists.
Getting the terminals into the country is dangerous, but the demand is so great that activists have found ways. They disguise packages, use various entry points, and bring them in one by one to avoid suspicion.
In October, the United States joined the Freedom Online Coalition to demand the Iranian government stop denying internet service to its citizens. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced in September that the US supports efforts to help Iranian citizens access the Internet.
We took action today to advance Internet freedom and the free flow of information for the Iranian people, issuing a General License to provide them greater access to digital communications to counter the Iranian government’s censorship.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 23, 2022
Iranian officials continue to try to wipe out the terminals and heavily control internet access. Still, the country’s attorney general, Mohammad-Jafar Montazeri, warned on December 3 that the next logical step to stop the disobedience would be to cut service completely. However, it’s unknown whether or not the country will take this route.
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