How Activists in Iran Are Using Starlink to Stay Online

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Adam Satariano, Paul Mozur and Sheera FrenkelJanuary 15, 2026 at 11:25 PM

Read Original Article

AI Summary

long article 6 min

Iranian activists have been smuggling Starlink satellite internet systems into the country since 2022 to circumvent government-imposed internet blackouts. These efforts, aided by a U.S. sanctions exemption, aim to maintain communication and disseminate information about protests. It is estimated that around 50,000 Starlink terminals are now in Iran, despite a domestic ban. Activists use these systems to share information, such as images of troop activity, during internet shutdowns. In response, Iranian authorities have deployed electronic weaponry to disrupt Starlink's GPS signals, a measure rarely used outside of conflict zones.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Ukraine 40% ASL19 50% United States 50% Kurdistan 60% Fereidoon Bashar 60% Starlink ×790% Iran ×1095%

Keywords

iran 100% starlink 100% internet shutdown 90% digital activism 80% communications blackout 70% satellite internet 60% digital rights 50% smuggling 50% gps disruption 40%