SpaceX Unveils Starshield, an Encrypted Starlink Service for Governments - ExtremeTech:
SpaceX has been providing satellite internet to regular folks under the Starlink brand for several years, but governments have specific needs that aren't addressed by consumer solutions. So, SpaceX is announcing Starshield, a service based on the same technology as Starlink, with added encryption and features for national security applications. SpaceX says Starshield will offer communication, hosted payloads, and Earth observations to government customers.
Naturally, a public-facing web page for a secure government communication product doesn't have much in the way of detail. SpaceX does list several ways it can provide Starshield functionality to interested parties, though. The current Starlink service already provides end-to-end user data encryption, but the national security version will feature "additional high-assurance cryptographic capability" for secure processing and delivery of classified data. Starshield can also support "satellites with sensing payloads," which we take to mean "spy satellites." SpaceX says it will even design custom payloads for government customers.
[...] With the work SpaceX already does for the DoD, it's probably expecting the US government to take advantage of Starshield. However, it could also offer Starshield to other nations. Although, most of its technology is covered under International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), a US regulatory system that restricts the export of defense and military-related technology. Thus, a US company like SpaceX would be unable to offer Starshield to countries with which the US has an adversarial relationship, like Russia and China.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by RedGreen on Tuesday December 13, @01:12PM (5 children)
"Thus, a US company like SpaceX would be unable to offer Starshield to countries with which the US has an adversarial relationship, like Russia and China."
They are likely to have zero interest in using those services anyway as they ban the already existing product and are highly unlikely to use US controlled encryption as same as the US is not going to use their tech for this. In the Russia case have said the existing satellites are legitimate targets for destruction in their efforts for the ongoing genocide of the lovely Ukrainian people they commit now. This new spying capability will make them even more of a target for those governments who have made no secret of their ability to destroy satellites in orbit already.
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday December 13, @03:15PM (2 children)
"This new spying capability will make them even more of a target for those governments who have made no secret of their ability to destroy satellites in orbit already."
I mean, it's encryption. Not a satellite with a spy camera.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by RedGreen on Tuesday December 13, @05:47PM (1 child)
"I mean, it's encryption. Not a satellite with a spy camera."
From the summary.
"Starshield can also support "satellites with sensing payloads,""
Which implies some kind of sensor(s) who knows if it is a camera or not in there too to spy on people and countries.
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Tuesday December 13, @09:15PM
Ah, sorry, I definitely just skimmed the topic. The whole encryption aspect just seemed kind of blah to me. Doing what you talked about definitely seems a bit odd for them. As well as possibly painting a target on their back.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 1) by Burz on Wednesday December 14, @12:03AM (1 child)
It makes for an audacious example of thinly-veiled espionage.
Seriously, what govt (or other entity) would trust this when Elon Musk is handing sensitive Twitter data over to insurrectionist CT partisans calling for civil war?
"Rely on our encryption" said the wolf. No thanks, I'll rely on mine.
(Score: 2) by RedGreen on Wednesday December 14, @01:59AM
"Seriously, what govt (or other entity) would trust this when Elon Musk is handing sensitive Twitter data over to insurrectionist CT partisans calling for civil war?"
The public tits have been out for him to suck on for a long time, he thinks the old reliable is still there for him to milk some more. I think he is going to find the wind has started to blow in different direction, like the Chinese he kowtows too so often he has been shown up for the disgusting piece of shit human being he is. He is on the down slide now, only I think he is too stupid to realize it, he thinks sheer force of will is going to right the ship and stop it from sinking. Like all them megalomaniac assholes he believes his own lies he has been telling them so long.
"I modded down, down, down, and the flames went higher." -- Sven Olsen
(Score: 3, Insightful) by SomeRandomGeek on Tuesday December 13, @06:59PM
Letting SpaceX do the encryption for you is just insane. There are many many ways available to encrypt your data before it enters the StarLink system and decrypt it after it exits. Why on earth would a national government let the Telco do the encryption for them?