Starlink terminals are reportedly being used by both sides in Russia's war on Ukraine, but now congressional representatives want to know why.
Russia attacked Elon Musk's Starlink with secret technology before advancing on Kharkiv
In a letter addressed to SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell, a pair of Democratic representatives asked SpaceX to provide a better explanation than was given on Twitter last month for how Russia may have acquired and operated Starlink terminals.
The letter, written by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), ranking member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on National Security, Border, and Foreign Affairs. The pair argue that Starlink's use of Russian forces was alarming and potentially a violation of US sanctions and export controls.
"According to Ukraine, the abuse of Starlink terminals is 'systemic,' raising further questions about the effectiveness of your company's safeguards and compliance with US sanctions and export controls," Raskin and Garcia said. "We are concerned that you may not have appropriate safeguards and policies in place in place to ensure that your technology is neither directly nor indirectly acquired or used illegally by Russia."
