- cross-posted to:
- joeroganexperience@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- joeroganexperience@lemmy.world
Elon Musk says he refused to give Kyiv access to his Starlink communications network over Crimea to avoid complicity in a “major act of war”.
Kyiv had sent an emergency request to activate Starlink to Sevastopol, home to a major Russian navy port, he said.
His comments came after a book alleged he had switched off Starlink to thwart a drone attack on Russian ships.
A senior Ukrainian official says this enabled Russian attacks and accused him of “committing evil”.
Russian naval vessels had since taken part in deadly attacks on civilians, he said.
“By not allowing Ukrainian drones to destroy part of the Russian military (!) fleet via Starlink interference, Elon Musk allowed this fleet to fire Kalibr missiles at Ukrainian cities,” he said.
“Why do some people so desperately want to defend war criminals and their desire to commit murder? And do they now realize that they are committing evil and encouraging evil?” he added.
The row follows the release of a biography of the billionaire by Walter Isaacson which alleges that Mr Musk switched off Ukraine’s access to Starlink because he feared that an ambush of Russia’s naval fleet in Crimea could provoke a nuclear response from the Kremlin.
Ukraine targeted Russian ships in Sevastopol with submarine drones carrying explosives but they lost connection to Starlink and “washed ashore harmlessly”, Mr Isaacson wrote.
Starlink terminals connect to SpaceX satellites in orbit and have been crucial for maintaining internet connectivity and communication in Ukraine as the conflict has disrupted the country infrastructure.
That “shiny metal detritus” is currently providing internet to Ukraine that allows them to fight in this war.
@SCB
I think the issue is whether a private businessman, who has made his money from public contracts, should be deciding how his data is used in a conflict that relates to US national security.
And whether you are comfortable with that.
#InMuskWeTrust #oligarch #musk #elon #wanker #uspol #ukpolitocs #twitter #x #arse #mastodon #lemmy #lemmie #putin
@MattMastodon @SCB
It is not his data. He’s just transporter.
I’m quite comfortable with it.
If the government wants a private citizen’s data and resources, they can contract with them for it. I find it bizarre that you think the government should just be able to take whatever it wants from people.
If you give them that power, some day, the cause will not be noble.
@SCB
I think you are arguing with a point I didn’t make.
You asked if I was comfortable with that. I didn’t argue anything. I stated why I am comfortable.
Also are hashtags a unique thing on your instance or what’s up? Didn’t understand the point of that, or @ing me
@SCB
OK
I’m serious about the hashtag and @ing tho - is that an instance thing?
@SCB
Yes I’m from a Mastodon instance. We can talk to you lemmy people but it’s a bit clunky.