U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan has raised concerns over the alleged use of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service by transnational criminal networks operating scam compounds in Southeast Asia. In a formal Hassan letter addressed to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Monday, the Democratic senator from New Hampshire requested detailed information on what measures the company is taking to prevent its technology from being misused in large-scale online fraud operations.
The request comes in response to growing evidence, including United Nations reports and investigative journalism, that Starlink has been used by scam networks in countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.
These criminal groups are accused of running scams that have caused billions of dollars in losses globally, including $3.5 billion in the U.S. alone in 2023.
Satellite Internet Powering Online Fraud
According to an October 2024 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Starlink’s satellite-based internet service has been adopted by organized criminal groups because of its portability, lack of dependence on local telecom networks, and its ability to provide reliable internet access even in remote or restricted areas.
One Wired investigation highlighted the scope of the issue, identifying at least 412 Starlink devices operating across eight scam compounds in Myanmar, logging over 40,000 connections in just three months. A separate law enforcement operation in Thailand reportedly seized more than 130 Starlink units from similar sites.
The compounds are known to house thousands of trafficked workers, many of whom are forced to carry out scams such as “pig butchering,” in which scammers manipulate victims through online relationships and ultimately defraud them of large sums of money.
The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the U.S. Secret Service have both reported a sharp rise in complaints and losses tied to these scam networks. Since November 2022, the Secret Service has received more than 8,000 related complaints, often involving digital assets.
Humanitarian and Financial Impact
Beyond financial loss, the scams have had severe humanitarian consequences. The UN has estimated that over 220,000 individuals have been trafficked into forced labor for online scams across the region. Victims often face psychological distress, and in some cases, have taken their own lives due to the trauma caused by these experiences.
“This fraud, often carried out by forced labor, can also cause profound psychological distress that drives victims of scams to suicide,” Senator Hassan wrote in her letter.
Global losses tied to scams originating in Southeast Asia are estimated to exceed $43.8 billion annually, with Americans accounting for a significant portion of those losses.
Questions for SpaceX in Hassan Letter
Senator Hassan’s letter includes a series of pointed questions for SpaceX, asking for information covering the period from January 1, 2020, to the present. She seeks clarity on several critical issues, including:
- When and how SpaceX became aware of Starlink’s use in Southeast Asian scam operations.
- Company policies for investigating, restricting, or deactivating Starlink devices.
- Safeguards in place to prevent criminal groups from acquiring Starlink units.
- The number of reports SpaceX has received from government or international agencies regarding misuse of its technology.
- Whether SpaceX has used “geofencing” capabilities to block Starlink in specific locations, as the UN has stated is technically possible.
- What actions, if any, the company has taken in cooperation with law enforcement to combat this problem.
- Revenue generated from devices that were later linked to criminal activity.
The senator has requested that SpaceX respond no later than August 18, 2025.
While SpaceX has previously stated it investigates and deactivates Starlink devices in various contexts, Senator Hassan noted that the company has not publicly addressed the use of Starlink in Southeast Asian scam operations or disclosed any specific actions it has taken in response.
A UN report suggested that Starlink’s failure to prevent its devices from being used in scam operations may constitute a violation of basic human rights principles for businesses.
Conclusion
Governments in Southeast Asia have taken steps to shut down the scam industry, including cutting electricity and internet access in regions known to host scam compounds. However, criminal networks have reportedly circumvented these efforts by using Starlink’s satellite connectivity, which operates independently of local infrastructure.
With billions of dollars at stake and thousands of lives impacted, both directly and indirectly, the pressure is now on Elon Musk and SpaceX to explain what they knew, when they knew it, and what they are doing to address the misuse of their technology.
As the August 18 deadline for SpaceX’s response approaches, stakeholders in both government and the tech industry will be watching closely.
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