As Iran faces a sweeping surge of anti-government protests, authorities have activated their most extensive internet shutdown yet, effectively cutting off both domestic connectivity and access to the global web. With conventional networks disabled, Elon Musk’s satellite service, Starlink, has become the main — and in many cases the only — channel through which information can leave the country.
A new front in digital warfare
Starlink operates through low-Earth-orbit satellites, allowing users to bypass state-run internet infrastructure. In a move aimed at supporting demonstrators, SpaceX this week began providing free access to Iranian users. The government, however, has responded with increasingly aggressive electronic countermeasures.
Monitoring groups, including NetBlocks and the Miaan Group, report unusually strong interference targeting Starlink connections. In some cities, data transmission losses have reached 80%, indicating the use of advanced jamming systems similar to those used by the Russian military.
Additionally, Iran has expanded its nationwide GPS spoofing operations. Because Starlink terminals rely on GPS signals to align with satellites, the interference has left many devices unable to establish a connection.
High risks for users
Despite these obstacles, analysts estimate that roughly 50,000 Starlink terminals remain active inside Iran.
Activists are reportedly using the satellite links to send videos and eyewitness accounts of the security crackdown, which human rights groups say has resulted in more than 2,000 deaths. The risks for users are severe. Under legislation enacted after the 2025 Iran-Israel conflict, possession of a Starlink terminal can be classified as espionage, a crimes that carry the death penalty.
International implications
The standoff has drawn attention in Washington. President Donald Trump recently said he is in talks with Musk about expanding Starlink access to restore connectivity, framing the effort as a key instrument of U.S. influence and information access in the region.
