Tesla CEO Elon Musk has rolled out his satellite-based Starlink service in Iran amid widespread protests in the country after authorities restricted internet access.
This Iranian government cut off Internet access for many citizens on Wednesday amid widespread protests over the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody, according to reports.
On Friday, SpaceX founder Elon Musk indicated that he would Starlink available in Iran.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken previously announced the Twitter about promotion Internet freedom and free flow of information to the people of Iran by issuing a General License to give them greater access to digital media to combat Iranian government censorship.
We took action today to promote Internet freedom and the free flow of information to the people of Iran, issuing a General License to give them greater access to digital media to fight censorship. approved by the Iranian government.
– Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) September 23, 2022
Responding to Blinken’s tweet, Musk wrote, “Activating Starlink.”
Protesters have demanded basic freedoms and held demonstrations against mandatory dress codes including the mandatory wearing of the hijab.
Protests in Iran broke out last weekend after Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by Iranian ethics police. She died a few days after being in a coma while in custody on charges of breaking the law regarding hijabs.
It’s worth noting that earlier this week, lawmakers from New York and New Jersey urged the US Treasury Department to approve if SpaceX seeks licensing permission to provide internet services in Iran.
Lawmakers, led by Claudia Tenney in New York and Tom Malinowski in New Jersey, are said to have appealed to the Treasury Department, Fox News reported. report. The letter comes after Musk tweeted Monday that SpaceX would apply for an exemption from sanctions on the country.
SpaceX has deployed Starlink in emergency situations before, such as in Ukraine after the Russian invasion and in the Tonga Islands in the South Pacific following a volcanic eruption.
