Amid widespread protests across Iran, the government has intensified efforts to disrupt internet access, targeting users of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service. With traditional internet and mobile networks largely shut down, Starlink has become a critical tool for Iranians to document and share footage of demonstrations and the authorities’ crackdown with the outside world.
Starlink as a Lifeline for Protest Coverage
As street demonstrations have erupted across dozens of Iranian cities, access to independent information has become increasingly limited. The Iranian government has shut down most internet connections and throttled phone services, leaving citizens with few options for sharing news and videos beyond the country’s borders.
“The only way to share videos is Starlink,” said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, co-founder of Iran Human Rights, based in Norway. He confirmed receiving footage from Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, showing ongoing protests.
One Tehran-based Starlink user described uploading protest videos captured by relatives and sending them to trusted third parties abroad, who then posted the footage online. “People who have Starlinks don’t let it be known and only upload videos to people they trust,” he said.
Government Efforts to Suppress Starlink
Iran has responded by hunting down Starlink terminals, which are illegal in the country. Over the weekend, authorities began searching for and confiscating dishes in western Tehran, according to Amir Rashidi, director of digital rights and security at Miaan Group, a U.S.-based nonprofit opposing internet censorship.
“It’s electronic warfare,” Rashidi said, noting that disruptions are particularly severe in areas where protests are concentrated and during evenings, when demonstrators gather.
While the government has tried to limit Starlink access, the service has not been completely halted. Mehdi Yahyanejad, co-founder and board director at NetFreedom Pioneers, a U.S. organization supporting internet access in authoritarian countries, said users transmit as many videos as possible whenever connections are strong.
International Context and U.S. Involvement
The crackdown in Iran has drawn attention internationally. Reports indicate that the death toll from the unrest has exceeded 2,000, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights circulated footage of numerous bodies at a morgue in southern Tehran.
Former President Donald Trump was scheduled to receive a briefing on potential responses, including sending additional Starlink terminals into the country. “We may get the internet going if that’s possible,” he told reporters, noting that he planned to discuss the possibility with Musk.
Starlink’s Role and Challenges
Starlink terminals are smuggled into Iran, often via small boats from Dubai or through Iraqi Kurdistan, and began appearing in significant numbers during the 2022 wave of protests. The U.S. and Starlink have resisted Iran’s requests, submitted through the International Telecommunication Union, to block service in the country. The company has taken limited steps, such as deactivating terminals identified by Iranian authorities.
“The internet shutdown is deepening the economic crisis that triggered the protests,” Rashidi said, noting that Iranian businesses are struggling as email, online services, and domestic calls are frequently interrupted.
The Stakes of Information Control
While the confrontations on the streets dominate headlines, the battle over information carries significant implications. Video from the protests is one of the few ways the international community can gauge the scale of unrest and government actions. Meanwhile, the Iranian government continues to control the narrative within the country, encouraging citizens to rely on state-affiliated news agencies and attend pro-government demonstrations.
One recent text message sent to citizens urged them to join a demonstration at the University of Tehran, a central site of recent protests, “in support of the regime and against US & Israel.”
As the government and protesters continue their struggle over both streets and information channels, Starlink remains a critical, albeit targeted, lifeline for Iranians seeking to have their voices heard globally.
