US senator urges Musk to block Starlink use by Southeast Asian criminal networks

US Senator Maggie Hassan has called on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to take immediate action against transnational criminal groups in Southeast Asia, which are allegedly using Starlink satellite internet to perpetrate massive online fraud schemes targeting American citizens.

In a letter seen by Reuters, the senator highlighted the growing role of Starlink in enabling so-called ‘scam compounds’ operated by criminal syndicates across Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

According to the US Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the fraud networks have collectively cost Americans billions of dollars.

Senator Hassan emphasised that although SpaceX’s service rules allow for termination of access in cases of fraudulent activity, Starlink appears to remain active in regions where these scams flourish. She urged Musk to uphold SpaceX’s stated standards and take responsibility for cutting off illicit use of the service.

The scam compounds in question are more than just virtual hubs; reportedly, they are the sites of forced labour and human trafficking. Reports, including those from the UN, detail how hundreds of thousands of people have been trafficked into these centres, where they are coerced into operating elaborate online fraud schemes. These often target victims in the US and around the world through phishing messages, fake investment offers, and digital extortion.

The region has taken some steps to curb these operations. Since February, Thailand has actively disrupted resources such as electricity and internet to areas along its border with Myanmar, notably Myawaddy, where many scam centres are based. However, satellite services like Starlink can bypass these traditional infrastructure shutdowns, enabling fraud operations to persist despite regional crackdowns.

The criminal networks, many of which have roots in China, have also captured international attention due to high-profile cases. One such case was the January abduction of Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was kidnapped after arriving in Thailand and later rescued across the border in Myanmar by Thai authorities.

The incident further exposed these networks’ dangerous and organised nature, prompting broader calls for transnational cooperation and tech-sector accountability.

Source: Reuters

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