Ongoing efforts by Iranian authorities to locate and disable users of Starlink satellite internet are underway as the government seeks to curtail the spread of protest videos beyond its borders. The move has drawn international attention and caused the keyword to trend globally, with reports emerging that officials are attempting to suppress ground-level footage capturing large-scale demonstrations.

The operation began in response to months of nationwide protests that have persisted since late 2025, driven by deep economic grievances and demands for political change. As traditional internet infrastructure was cut off and mobile data connections were throttled, many Iranians turned to Elon Musk’s Starlink service to post videos and images of the unrest to audiences outside Iran.

Iran’s official communications blackout, which has reduced normal internet access by more than 90 percent, has included sophisticated jamming of satellite internet signals. Authorities have reportedly used electronic warfare tools and physical searches to locate Starlink terminals, which remain illegal within the country.

Government forces have moved into neighborhoods where protest activity is high to seize Starlink equipment and disrupt service locally. Satellite dishes and terminals brought into Iran through smuggling routes have been key targets, with some confiscations already reported in major urban centers.

Despite these measures, activists and citizens using Starlink have continued to upload protest footage when connections are available, providing some of the few independent accounts of events on the ground. Videos shared via satellite internet have been circulated by external human rights observers and media outlets.

International reactions to Iran’s crackdown on communications have included discussions by foreign leaders about bolstering access to satellite internet for Iranians and calls for respect for freedom of information. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing debates over how to protect digital rights amid state efforts to control the narrative.

Sources

• Iran Is Hunting Down Starlink Users to Stop Protest Videos From Going Global – Wall Street Journal
• Iranians tap Musk’s Starlink to skirt internet blackout, sources say – Reuters