starlink users — A Cyprus-based company has developed technology capable of revealing the locations and identities of individuals using Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet service, Starlink.
- starlink users — A Cyprus-based company has developed technology capable of revealing the locations and identities of individuals using Elon Musk's satellite-based internet service, Starlink.
TargetTeam, as reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, has created a system named Stargetz that can reportedly track close to one million Starlink terminals globally. This technology has raised significant concerns regarding privacy and the implications of identifying users of a service that is often a lifeline in areas facing internet shutdowns.
Founded by former employees of Israeli cyber intelligence firms, TargetTeam also possesses a tool named VPNz. This tool enables users to discern the true identities of individuals accessing the internet via virtual private networks (VPNs), which are typically employed to protect user anonymity.
According to the Jerusalem Post, TargetTeam claims that it does not intercept communication traffic or breach Starlink’s encryption. This approach is intended to mitigate potential legal and public disputes surrounding the use of their technology.
Rather than compromising encryption, TargetTeam’s technology maps the locations of Starlink terminals worldwide. This mapping process reveals the whereabouts of those connecting to the internet through these devices. Haaretz further explains that the system employs data fusion techniques to not only map terminals but also identify the actual users connecting through them.
As the technology is being marketed primarily to governments, the implications of its use are profound. Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, head of Amnesty International’s security lab, highlighted the critical role satellite-based internet services play for individuals in regions experiencing internet shutdowns, conflicts, or oppression. He stated, “For people living under internet shutdowns, blockades, and active conflict – from Sudan, to Myanmar, to Iran – satellite services like Starlink are often the last remaining channel to call for help, document rights violations, and tell the world what is happening.”
In addition to its potential civilian applications, the marketing materials for the technology suggest a military purpose. TargetTeam’s sales representatives have indicated that the system could be used to locate naval vessels that have disabled their transponders, with one salesman quipping, “The ship can hide, but the crew still needs porn and TikTok.” This alarming assertion raises ethical questions about the dual-use nature of the technology.
A live demonstration of the Stargetz technology reportedly showcased an interactive map displaying terminals across the Middle East, the Arabian Peninsula, India, Russia, and China, along with offshore clusters in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, likely linked to ships. The system is said to be monitoring one million terminals providing internet to approximately 5.5 million devices, with a fifth of those terminals having been “deanonymized.” This term implies that TargetTeam has successfully identified details regarding the devices or the individuals using them.
While Starlink services are available in Cyprus, accessing the internet via satellite in the northern region remains illegal, punishable by up to six months in prison. However, this law has yet to be enforced.
