House Democrats Robert Garcia, D-Calif., and Jamie Raskin, D-Md., announced defense contracting in response to reports that Russia may have illegally purchased and used Starlink satellite internet equipment in occupied territory in Ukraine. Sent a letter to SpaceX demanding transparency from vendors.
of Members of Parliament also announced The SpaceX investigation by a Democratic House committee is examining the company’s security measures and procedures to prevent the illegal export and use of its Starlink equipment and services.washington post first reported about the rover and a letter dated March 6 to Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX’s president and chief operating officer.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk won praise for providing Starlink terminals and satellite internet services in the early days of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, while the West Government and non-governmental organizations endeavored to provide Kiev with air defense systems and critical support.
Musk later said, “Starlink was never intended to be involved in war. It was for people to watch Netflix, relax, go to school, and do good peaceful work instead of drone attacks.” ”, according to the tech tycoon’s authorized biography. Written by Walter Isaacson.
The book also says Musk ordered SpaceX engineers to shut down the Starlink satellite network over Crimea to prevent Ukraine from attacking Russian warships.
When the book was published in 2023, its information (though Musk denied its accuracy) angered Ukrainian officials, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
In February, the Kiev Intelligence Directorate (GUR) announced that there was growing evidence of Russian military use of Starlink in the partially occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
“Russia’s use of Starlink satellite terminals would violate U.S. export controls that prohibit Russia from acquiring and using U.S. technology,” the lawmakers said in a statement Thursday.
House Democrats are not the only members of Congress demanding more transparency from SpaceX and how the company manages its vast global satellite communications network.
In February, the bipartisan House China Committee and its leader, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), sent a letter to Elon Musk stating that U.S. troops in Taiwan would not be able to use SpaceX, which is designed for military use. It requested access to the satellite communications network “Starshield.” Gallagher said in the letter that lack of access could violate SpaceX’s contractual obligations to the Department of Defense.
“SpaceX is in full compliance with all of its U.S. government contracts,” the company said in an email to CNBC at the time.
The company did not respond to a request for comment on the new investigation into Russia’s possible use of Starlink in the occupied territories of Ukraine before publication.
A new investigation by House Democrats follows news Wednesday that a New Jersey man was arrested on suspicion of trafficking 675 SpaceX Starlink terminals that were purchased with stolen credit card accounts or hacked Starlink billing accounts. It was carried out subsequently.
Police told CNBC they are continuing to work with SpaceX to investigate the exact method of trafficking and purchase. It’s unclear where all the equipment that enables Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet service was ultimately bound.
Read the full letter to SpaceX.