SpaceX has taken aggressive action against a massive Burmese scam ring, disabling over 2,500 Starlink devices that were suspected of being used by the criminal operation. This move follows the military bust of a major scam center bordering Thailand.
Starlink Used for Cybercrime
Layren Dreyer, SpaceX’s VP for business operations, confirmed the action, noting that the company proactively identified and disabled the kits in the vicinity of suspected scam centers in Myanmar. Starlink, which is designed to provide fast internet connections in remote areas, has become an ideal tool for hackers and scam rings operating outside the reach of local law enforcement.
Earlier reporting indicated that Thai authorities were struggling to combat Chinese smugglers who were illegally supplying Starlink technology to the Burmese scam compounds.
The Problem of Trafficked Labor
The crackdown came after Myanmar’s military reportedly arrested more than 2,000 individuals involved in the scam center’s operations and confiscated numerous Starlink kits. International organizations highlight that these centers often rely on trafficked people and operate using slave labor, creating massive scam compounds.
The US Treasury recently sanctioned both Myanmar and Cambodia over the escalating scammer operations, which have resulted in American citizens losing tens of billions of dollars. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley emphasized that the Southeast Asian cyberscam industry not only threatens the financial security of Americans but also subjects thousands of people to modern slavery.
SpaceX stated that while its technology offers immense benefits, it recognizes the risk of misuse and complies with local laws, promising to continue working with law enforcement worldwide when violations are identified.
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