Starlink Blanket Ban Could Impact Humanitarian Work; 255 Civil Society Groups Call for Targeted Blocking of Cyber Scam Camps Only

A total of 255 civil society organizations have called for a targeted blockade of cyber scam camps, stating that the comprehensive restriction and ban on Starlink satellite internet usage in Myanmar is negatively impacting civilians unrelated to military affairs, humanitarian operations, and essential services.

In a joint statement released by the Myanmar Internet Project, it stated that the widespread blocking of Starlink devices in Myanmar has made emergency relief, healthcare, education, and access to information more difficult in areas where internet-based communications are already weak.

The organizations said they support efforts to combat cross-border cyber scams occurring in the Southeast Asian region, but noted that simultaneously blocking all Starlink users nationwide, rather than targeting problematic locations, could cause unintended harm.

According to the statement, SpaceX had previously deactivated Starlink devices near cyber scam camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, but subsequent blocking measures could also affect users in regions such as Magway, Sagaing, and Rakhine that are unrelated to those camps.

The organizations stated that due to ongoing military conflicts and communications restrictions in Myanmar, areas without regular internet access are increasing, and in these regions Starlink is not a technology used for entertainment but has become a relied-upon service for emergency communications.

The statement noted that especially in conflict zones, Starlink has been used to broadcast aerial attack warnings, coordinate patient transport, and facilitate relief communications. Service disruptions make it more difficult to receive such critical information.

Furthermore, local administrative bodies, humanitarian organizations, independent media, and human rights documentation groups are also continuing their operations using Starlink, the statement added.

The civil society groups pointed out that cyber scam syndicates had been operating even before Starlink existed and have the capacity to switch to alternative communication methods.However, civilians and essential service providers are becoming the primary victims of this ban.

Therefore, the organizations called on SpaceX, the U.S. government, and relevant agencies to accurately identify and selectively block only cyber scam camps, restore services to unrelated Starlink users, and collaborate with organizations in Myanmar to establish a user verification system.