"A powerful bipartisan committee in the US Congress says it has begun an investigation into the involvement of Elon Musk's Starlink satellite business in providing internet access to Myanmar scam centres, blamed for swindling billions from victims across the world. The move comes as it was revealed that large numbers of Starlink dishes began appearing on scam-centre roofs in Myanmar around the time of a crackdown in February that was supposed to eradicate the centres, according to a investigation by Agence France-Presse"
"The US Congress joint economic committee told the news agency it began an investigation in July into Starlink's involvement with the scam centres. The committee has the power to make Musk testify before it. China, Thailand and Myanmar forced pro-junta Myanmar militias who protect the centres into promising to eradicate the compounds in February. They freed about 7,000 people most Chinese citizens from the brutal call centre-style system, which the UN says runs on forced labour and human trafficking."
"Senator Maggie Hassan, the leading Democrat on the US congressional committee, has called on Musk to block the Starlink service to the fraud factories. While most people have probably noticed the increasing number of scam texts, calls and emails, they may not know that transnational criminals halfway across the world may be perpetrating these scams by using Starlink internet access, she said."
A bipartisan US congressional committee opened an investigation in July into Starlink's alleged role providing internet access to Myanmar scam centres. Large numbers of Starlink dishes began appearing on scam-centre roofs around a February crackdown that aimed to eradicate the compounds. Starlink rapidly became Myanmar's largest internet provider within three months, according to APNIC regional data. China, Thailand and Myanmar pressured militias to promise eradication and freed about 7,000 people, mostly Chinese, from call centre-style operations accused by the UN of forced labour and human trafficking. Senator Maggie Hassan demanded answers and asked Musk to block service to the fraud facilities. SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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