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Starlink suspends charges for Iranian users
Elon Musk's satellite internet service has reportedly stopped collecting monthly payments from users in Iran after authorities shut down nationwide internet access last Thursday, severing millions from communication and information during a violent crackdown on demonstrations.
Lifeline amid government blackout
Two Iranian residents told BBC Persian on Tuesday that their Starlink terminals remained active despite unpaid subscriptions. The director of an organisation assisting Iranians with online access confirmed the service had been made free. SpaceX, which owns Starlink, has not responded to requests for confirmation.
Although illegal in Iran, Starlink serves tens of thousands of users. Since the shutdown, it has become one of the last remaining channels for Iranians to reach the outside world, according to activists and digital rights groups.
Risks and government crackdown
Using Starlink in Iran carries a potential two-year prison sentence. Authorities have intensified searches for satellite dishes, particularly in areas where protest footage has emerged. A user identified only as Parsa, speaking to BBC Persian via Starlink, described security forces climbing rooftops and inspecting neighbouring buildings.
"What people need to know is that the government is searching areas where a lot of footage has come out, so they need to be even more cautious."
Parsa, Iranian Starlink user
Despite the risks, at least 50,000 people are estimated to rely on Starlink, according to human rights organisation Witness. Mahsa Alimardani, its associate director for technology, threats and opportunities, said Iranian authorities have attempted to jam the service without success, prompting physical confiscations of equipment.
Government justifies shutdown
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Monday that internet restrictions were imposed after authorities linked "terrorist operations" to external orders. Fars news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed the shutdown aimed to prevent foreign social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram from being used to "organise violence and unrest."
Human rights groups have condemned the blackout as an abuse of power. A UN Human Rights Office spokesperson told the BBC the shutdown "impacts the works of those documenting human rights violations."
Casualties and censorship
One human rights group has verified over 2,400 protester deaths and nearly 150 security force fatalities, though actual numbers are believed to be significantly higher. The internet blackout has hindered efforts to gather and verify evidence of ongoing violence.
Parsa noted that while many Iranians are connected, few dare to transmit information. "I think a lot of people are connected, but only a very small number are taking the risk of sending information out," he said.
One man travelled nearly 1,000 km to a border region to use neighbouring countries' mobile networks to send footage of dozens of bodies at a Tehran forensic medical centre, describing the scene as too distressing to withhold.
Surveillance and digital repression
Iran has a history of digital surveillance to suppress dissent. Authorities reportedly use phishing techniques to hack phones and access personal data. Most internet access is restricted to a domestic intranet, blocking Western platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Despite these restrictions, an estimated 50 million Iranians use Instagram via VPNs.
Ana Diamond, a research associate at the Oxford Disinformation and Extremism Lab, said the government curates information to condition public perception, framing casualties as "rioters" to erode resistance and prepare for potential escalations.
Starlink kits seized, risks persist
On Tuesday, Iranian intelligence announced the seizure of a large shipment of Starlink kits allegedly intended for "espionage and sabotage." However, BBC Persian confirmed through multiple sources that the devices are widely used to bypass censorship.
Parsa warned that sending videos carries additional risks. "If they record them from home or where the device is kept, their risk increases, and the government can identify the location," he said.
