SpaceX Disables 2,500+ Starlink Terminals in Myanmar – Fraudulent Use

SpaceX, the space development company led by Elon Musk, is launching a satellite internet service.Starlinkis being expanded around the world. Lauren Dreyer, SpaceX’s vice president of business operations, announced that the company has disabled more than 2,500 Starlink terminals suspected of being used for fraud in Myanmar.

SpaceX disables 2,500 Starlink terminals allegedly used by Asian scam centers – Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/10/starlink-blocks-2500-dishes-allegedly-used-by-myanmars-notorious-scam-centers/

“SpaceX complies with local laws in all 150+ markets where we have licenses to operate Starlink. SpaceX continually identifies violations of our Terms of Service and applicable law,” Dreyer wrote in a post dated October 22, 2025, Japan time. “We take appropriate action when we identify violations, including working with law enforcement agencies around the world. For example, in Myanmar, SpaceX proactively identified and disabled more than 2,500 Starlink kits around suspected ‘fraud centers.’

Dreyer did not explain how to disable the Starlink kit, but Starlink can disable individual devices based on the device’s ID number,geofencingIt has been found that it is possible to block signal reception in a specific area using Please note that Starlink has not obtained an operating license in Myanmar.

Mr. Dreyer’s post comes in response to reports that Myanmar’s military government raided KK Park, the country’s most notorious internet fraud hub, and detained approximately 2,200 workers who had been forced to commit fraud, as well as confiscated approximately 30 Starlink-related devices.

Myanmar military raids internet fraud base, seizes Starlink-related equipment | Jiji Press News
https://sp.m.jiji.com/article/show/3634537

Foreign media outlet Associated Press reports, “In a statement Monday night, military government spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun accused leaders of the Karen National Union, an armed ethnic group opposed to the military government, of being involved in the KK Park fraud project.” In contrast to thisKaren National Uniondenies involvement in the fraud.

Myanmar has long been known as an international internet fraud hub. In October, Agence France-Presse reported that satellite images and drone footage showed that fraudulent bases using Starlink were being built near the border between Thailand and Myanmar.reported。

Agence France-Presseanother articlefraud centers near Myanmar’s border are reportedly run by Chinese criminal organizations and supervised by militias that receive support from Myanmar’s military junta in exchange for security.

These fraudulent organizations typically use romantic advances and fake investment offers to gain the trust of their online victims and recruit workers under the guise of legitimate work. The victims are then imprisoned in a fraud center and forced to commit telephone and internet fraud using threats and violence.

Announced by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in October 2024(PDF file)ReportIt has been reported that Starlink is being used for fraudulent activities. “Despite the use of Starlink being heavily monitored and in some cases restricted by geofencing, organized crime groups appear to have found ways to circumvent existing security protocols in order to access the remote high-speed internet connections made possible by this portable technology,” the report said.

In July 2025, Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan sent a letter to Mr. Musk requesting to prevent international criminal organizations in Southeast Asia from using Starlink.

US lawmaker appeals to Musk to prevent Southeast African criminal organizations from using Starlink | Reuters