Elon Musk insists he’s restricting Ukraine’s access to Starlink because Zelensky could start World War III
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:59 am
Elon Musk insists he’s restricting Ukraine’s access to Starlink because Zelensky could start World War III
https://fortune.com/2023/02/13/elon-mus ... ne-russia/
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk fears his satellite-based communications service could help launch World War III.
Elon Musk has a message for whoever might blame him for a third World War erupting over Ukraine: It’s not his fault. In fact, his decision to restrict Ukrainian access to his communications technology—he’s disabling satellite broadband use for any potential strikes on Russian soil—could help prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control. If you ask him, that is.
The serial entrepreneur has become a vital player in Ukraine’s defense thanks to his Starlink service, which has enabled communications for its soldiers all the way up to the front lines since last March. But Musk has complained about the cost of this pro bono technology, at one point tweeting that the cost to his company SpaceX would exceed $100 million by the end of the year. Briefly, he even floated the idea that U.S. taxpayers foot the bill, before dropping the idea.
On Sunday, Musk didn’t cite any objections over any financial hit from providing the coverage. Instead, he argued that restricting Kyiv’s communications will prevent the regional conflict from evolving into something worse.
His specific worry is that his satellite-based broadband provider could be used to mount long-range drone strikes in Russian territory that might herald a new, more horrific phase of the war. In early December, Kyiv hit two targets hundreds of miles from its border, a politically controversial issue that some argue could transform a war of liberation into an offensive one.
“We will not enable escalation of conflict that may lead to WW3,” he posted on Sunday.
https://fortune.com/2023/02/13/elon-mus ... ne-russia/
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk fears his satellite-based communications service could help launch World War III.
Elon Musk has a message for whoever might blame him for a third World War erupting over Ukraine: It’s not his fault. In fact, his decision to restrict Ukrainian access to his communications technology—he’s disabling satellite broadband use for any potential strikes on Russian soil—could help prevent the conflict from spiraling out of control. If you ask him, that is.
The serial entrepreneur has become a vital player in Ukraine’s defense thanks to his Starlink service, which has enabled communications for its soldiers all the way up to the front lines since last March. But Musk has complained about the cost of this pro bono technology, at one point tweeting that the cost to his company SpaceX would exceed $100 million by the end of the year. Briefly, he even floated the idea that U.S. taxpayers foot the bill, before dropping the idea.
On Sunday, Musk didn’t cite any objections over any financial hit from providing the coverage. Instead, he argued that restricting Kyiv’s communications will prevent the regional conflict from evolving into something worse.
His specific worry is that his satellite-based broadband provider could be used to mount long-range drone strikes in Russian territory that might herald a new, more horrific phase of the war. In early December, Kyiv hit two targets hundreds of miles from its border, a politically controversial issue that some argue could transform a war of liberation into an offensive one.
“We will not enable escalation of conflict that may lead to WW3,” he posted on Sunday.