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SpaceX already does geo-lock them to an extend. But the terminals are exported to so many countries that any meaningful controls are impossible.
by nradov 8mo ago
SpaceX already does geo-lock them to an extend. But the terminals are exported to so many countries that any meaningful controls are impossible.
- phpnode 8mo agoThe terminal knows where it is at all times.
- hparadiz 8mo agoI think what's actually funnier is that the satellite shooting the laser has to know where the terminal is with pin point accuracy too. So it's pretty easy to cut off targeting to a vast chunk of the planet.
- ch4s3 8mo agoYes but the problem is that the battle lines are fluid and the drones are obviously aiming for the Ukrainian side.
- wmf 8mo agoI know this is a meme but for those at home the whole point of a war is to cross over the front line into the opponent's territory and capture it. If your comms are disabled when you cross the front you can't really fight. So "just disable Starlink within Russian territory" does not solve anything.
- phpnode 8mo agoYou can have a hybrid approach - deny access in that area by default but have a secure way to whitelist specific terminals for short periods (mission duration)
- lostlogin 8mo agoSo Starlink ‘Offence’ could be an upsell on a basic ‘Defence’ plan.
- ftth_finland 8mo agoSimple solutions: block all Starlink terminals that aren’t whitelisted upon entering Russian territory or Ukrainian conflict zones. This will prevent Russians importing Starlink terminals and then deploying them in Ukraine. Work with Ukrainians to whitelist all their terminals.
- MarkusQ 8mo agoWhich is exactly what they are doing. https://unn.ua/en/news/ukraine-launches-starlink-whitelist-in-response-to-russian-use-of-terminals-how-it-will-work https://unn.ua/en/news/ukraine-launches-starlink-whitelist-i...
- ftth_finland 8mo agoIt’s missing the part that any non-whitelisted Starlink terminal entering Russian territory should automatically be blocked. This would deny all Russians the use of Starlink.
- MarkusQ 8mo agoThe issue isn't Russians using Starlink inside Russia (they have other option, e.g. wired system, etc. there); the issue was their using it for drones and other combat operations inside Ukraine (including Ukrainian territory presently held by Russia).
- mort96 8mo agoThe Starlink terminal can't know based on only its position which side it's being used by. Equipment is often used in enemy territory.
- victorbjorklund 8mo agoThat is a tiny minority of the use. The vast majority of Russian use has been on Russian controlled land.
- mort96 8mo agoSure. But if you geoblock all use on Russian controlled land, you're also blocking Ukrainian use on Russian controlled land. I have no idea if that would cause issues or not, but it's not that far fetched to imagine it might.
- morkalork 8mo agoIt knows this because it knows where it isn't. By subtracting where it is from where it isn't
- zoklet-enjoyer 8mo agoI understand this reference
- WalterBright 8mo agoThat all depends on what the meaning of is is.
- salawat 8mo agoIt knows this because it knows where it isn't. By subtracting where it is from where it isn't, or where it isn't from where it is (whichever is greater), it obtains a difference, or deviation. This makes it a very, very dirty terminal.
- GeoAtreides 8mo agoTerminals in Ukraine are whitelisted (with whitelist being supplied by the Ukrainian MoD). Meaningful controls are possible, it's what led to the ukrainian forces advancing and liberating territory recently.
- nradov 8mo agoYou missed my point. It's impossible to meaningfully control the export of physical terminals. But as I pointed out above, SpaceX has already been doing some geo-locking.
- GeoAtreides 8mo agoI did not. Whitelisting means Russia can not buy terminals in UAE and use them in Ukraine. Because the terminals in UAE are not whitelisted to be used in Ukraine. Therefore, it's possible to control the export of terminals.
- filleokus 8mo agoI suspect nradov argues that this type of geofencing + allow-listing is not typically what people mean when they talk about "export control", which I agree with. And while geofencing + allow-listing for sure provide value in e.g the Ukrainian conflict, it's a weak protection compared to goods that are actually under strict export control (e.g ITAR), and will always have to be done after the fact. Russia could for example put Starlink on drones launched from the Baltic Ocean targeting Poland or whatever.
- mayama 8mo agoHow would they geolock terminals on active conflict zone where conflict line changes in realtime. Terminals also cross miles across the line on drones etc. regularly. There was also pushback from Ukraine forces, when they are asked to register their terminals to be whitelisted a while back.