SpaceX Disconnects Starlink from Myanmar Scam Operations

Sat Dec 06 2025 23:18:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a decisive action against illicit activity, SpaceX has cut Starlink services to over 2,500 devices linked to scam compounds in Myanmar, a move that follows military interventions in the region.

SpaceX has terminated Starlink services for more than 2,500 devices associated with scam operations in Myanmar. This follows a military crackdown on a major compound used for human trafficking and scams, which have become notorious in the region. The decision aims to combat the misuse of satellite technology, as calls for action against these criminal networks have intensified.

Elon Musk's SpaceX says it has cut Starlink satellite communication links to more than 2,500 devices used by scam compounds in Myanmar.

More than 30 compounds are believed to be operating along the Thai-Myanmar border, where people from around the world are trafficked and forced to work on scams generating tens of billions of dollars annually.

Announcing the move, Lauren Dreyer, head of Starlink business operations, said the firm takes action when it identifies violations.

The service's termination follows a recent takeover of one of the largest compounds, KK Park, by the Myanmar military, as it regains territory lost to insurgent groups over the past two years.

Campaigners have warned that Starlink technology has enabled crime syndicates to operate from remote locations along the border.

Myanmar has become infamous for these operations, which defraud victims through romantic ploys and bogus investment schemes. Workers are lured under the guise of legitimate jobs, only to be held captive and forced into criminal activity.

Survivors recount gruelling conditions, long hours, torture, and beatings for failing to meet targets, with many victims coming from African countries.

In Myanmar... SpaceX proactively identified and disabled over 2,500 Starlink Kits in the vicinity of suspected 'scam centers', Dreyer stated in a post on social media.

We are committed to ensuring the service remains a force for good and sustains trust worldwide: both connecting the unconnected and detecting and preventing misuse by bad actors, she added.

Following the military's action on Monday, more than 2,000 workers were released from KK Park, where 30 Starlink terminals were confiscated. However, at least 30 other scam compounds remain active along the border, employing tens of thousands globally, and it is unclear if these compounds have also lost their access to Starlink services.

These scams have become a crucial element of Myanmar's wartime economy, as the junta leverages Chinese support to maintain power amid ongoing conflicts with various rebel groups.