The Starlink network of Southeast Asia disrupts scam compounds with bad actors: a case study of a Chinese human-trafficking victim
The call for help was received last summer. “I am in Myanmar and work for a fraud company,” a Chinese human-trafficking victim wrote in a short email sent from within the Tai Chang scam compound. They were tricked into modern slavery, and made to scam people online for hours a day, after they were promised legitimate work. Tai Chang, which backs on to the Myanmar-Thailand border, has been linked to incidents of torture. They said that they were chatting secretly and that they were not safe. Despite the risk, their first request wasn’t to be rescued.
The criminal networks of Southeast Asia appear to be using the satellite internet network in increasing numbers. At least eight scam compounds based around the Myanmar-Thailand border region are using Starlink devices, according to mobile phone connection data reviewed by WIRED. Between November 2024 and the start of February, hundreds of mobile phones logged their locations and use of Starlink at known scam compounds more than 40,000 times, according to the mobile phone data, which was collected by an online advertising industry tool.
The messages were sent toErin West, then deputy district attorney for Santa Clara County, California. West, a long time advocate for victims of cryptocurrencies such as pig butchering, wrote to the company that built Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system urging it to help victims. Starlink connections appeared to be helping criminals at Tai Chang to “scam Americans” and “fuel their internet needs,” West alleged at the end of July 2024. She offered to share more information to help the company in “disrupting the work of bad actors.”
Starlink devices may have been installed in at least eight compounds in the Myawaddy region. The WIRED reviewed Tai Chang and found that the number of white Starlink satellite dishes on a rooftop had gone up in the past year.
SpaceX takes over $2.4 billion to revamp air traffic control communication: Report of the Washington Post and The Washington Post, citing Musk’s comments on the FAA
Four commercial aircraft crashes, as well as a number of private plane crashes and near misses have happened in the last 11 weeks. Meanwhile, the air traffic control system appears to be in chaos, with hundreds of employees cut. Despite air travel being safer than it has ever been before, many people are left with the perception of a global aviation system that’s coming apart at the seams.
Much of Musk’s wealth comes from government largesse. Over the years, his companies have received $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies, and tax credits.
The Federal Aviation Administration is on the cusp of canceling a $2.4 billion contract to overhaul the communication system for the nation’s air traffic control system and handing it to the SpaceX subsidiary instead, The Washington Post reports, citing two unnamed sources briefed on the plans. The news was also confirmed by The Associated Press.
Several SpaceX employees now have FAA email addresses, the Post reports. One SpaceX employee posted a photo of the team on X, with the statement, “Working to improve the safety of the national air space system.”
The FAA has been working with the team from the parent company to improve the technology in their system. US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they were tasked with developing “a new, better, modern and safer system.”
This, of course, follows a pattern, in which Musk posts on X about something regarding the FAA and then seems to will it into existence. The billionaire called for the resignation of the FAA administrator after they fined the company for failing to get approval for changes to their rockets. After his repeated comments, Whitaker resigned on the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Source: Starlink poised to take over $2.4 billion contract to overhaul air traffic control communication
A Transportation Editor for The New York Times (Revisiting “New Physics for Autonomous Vehicles” and Other Newsprints)
is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work was in the New York Daily News.