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A comment on Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, shuts down internet. Parent comment

Re:Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, s... by AnimalMuppet on Wednesday October 02, 2019 @05:45PM (#21141097)
Especially since Iraq is leaning on private companies (ISPs) to get them to shut down the internet.

The one advantage that Starlink might have is, it might be a company beyond the reach of the Iraqi government, and therefore less likely to give in to their pressure to close off access. But what we really need is several such companies, not just one.

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Re:Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, s... by TeMPOraL on Wednesday October 02, 2019 @07:24PM (#21141861)
Given how satellites don't respect national borders by default, I wonder whether there will be - or maybe already are - international agreements that would make it easier for a nation's government to coerce a foreign operator to deny service over that nation.
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Re:Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, s... by caleb-allen on Wednesday October 02, 2019 @05:54PM (#21141163)
Aren't there multiple Starlink competitors in development now?
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Re:Iraq blocks Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Instagram, s... by hawaiianbrah on Wednesday October 02, 2019 @06:17PM (#21141358)
Yes, they’re just the furthest along and perhaps most likely to succeed since they own the launching mechanism the others would likely use.
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