Iranian authorities have intensified efforts to silence the flow of information from inside the country by targeting users of Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, Starlink.
According to reports by The Wall Street Journal, security forces have launched coordinated operations to locate and confiscate Starlink equipment, particularly in parts of western Tehran, as protests continue to grip the nation.
Over the weekend, Iranian security units reportedly carried out house-to-house searches aimed at seizing satellite dishes and Starlink terminals.
Opposition sources and messages circulating on social media on January 12 suggest that the operation is part of a broader attempt to prevent videos and firsthand accounts of the unrest from reaching the outside world. An expatriate-based account that monitors satellite internet activity in Iran also confirmed unusual activity consistent with a crackdown on Starlink usage.
As the government tightens restrictions on traditional internet access, many Iranians have turned to low-profile satellite connections to bypass censorship. Over the past two weeks, these connections have played a crucial role in allowing protesters and citizens to share videos, messages, and updates despite widespread shutdowns and surveillance.
Human rights organizations monitoring the situation say the stakes are high. More than 500 people have reportedly been killed since the protests erupted, making the ability to document events and communicate with the outside world a matter of urgency for many Iranians. The use of Starlink has become a lifeline for activists and ordinary citizens seeking to expose violence and human rights abuses.
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