Brasilia: The government of Brazil signed a two-year agreement with Starlink, the satellite internet company owned by Elon Musk, to regulate internet usage in the Amazon region as part of efforts to combat illegal activities such as unlicensed mining. The agreement follows investigations revealing that criminal groups had used Starlink's services to coordinate illegal operations in remote areas.
According to Bahrain News Agency, a statement from the Federal Prosecutor's Office detailed that the agreement requires Starlink to implement strict measures including user identification and device geolocation, and to provide this information to Brazilian authorities upon request. Starlink will also be required to immediately disconnect users found engaging in illegal activities.
The Amazon region has long suffered from poor traditional internet coverage, making Starlink a widely adopted solution. However, its accessibility was exploited by organised crime. This is the first formal collaboration between the company and the Brazilian government to control unlawful usage.