Elon Musk ordered the cutting off of Ukrainian access to Starlink satellites to prevent a drone attack on Russian warships near Crimea, fearing it would lead to a Russian nuclear retaliation, reveals a new biography by Walter Isaacson.
Elon Musk's decision to thwart a Ukrainian mission to combat Russian warships exposes the dangers of relying on philanthropy for national security and highlights the problematic interaction between Western capitalism and national security.
Elon Musk refused a Ukrainian request to activate his Starlink satellite network in Crimea's Sevastopol port last year, fearing complicity in a "major" act of war and conflict escalation with Russia's fleet, according to a new biography.
Lawmakers on both sides need to hold Elon Musk accountable for assisting Russia by turning off a Starlink satellite to thwart a Ukrainian attack, as his close ties to Putin and his unilateral decision-making raise alarm bells about his support for war crimes inflicted by Russia on Ukraine.
State Secretary Antony Blinken said he cannot confirm Elon Musk turning off Starlink internet access during a Ukrainian attack on Russia, but emphasized the importance of Starlink for communication and defense efforts in Ukraine.
The US government is seeking Elon Musk's testimony in an investigation into X (formerly known as Twitter), citing concerns about the company's ability to comply with the law and protect user privacy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Elon Musk as an "outstanding person" and businessman, following Musk's revelation that he refused a Ukrainian request to activate his Starlink satellite network in Crimea, fearing it would aid an attack on Russia's Black Sea fleet.
Elon Musk faces backlash and accusations of treason over his decision to deny Ukraine access to Starlink during their conflict with Russia.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren calls for a Senate investigation into Elon Musk's alleged role in preventing a Ukrainian drone attack, stating that Congress and the U.S. military should evaluate their contracts with SpaceX.
Three Democratic senators are seeking answers from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin regarding whether Elon Musk or other commercial satellite providers restricted the Ukrainian military's access to communication networks and whether the Defense Department has the authority to intervene, following reports in Walter Isaacson's biography of Musk that he prevented the Ukrainian armed forces from using Starlink satellite communication terminals to attack Russian ships in Russian-held southern Ukraine.
Ukrainian public figures are criticizing Elon Musk for rejecting a request from the Ukrainian military to re-activate his satellite communications system, with some accusing him of being selfish, ignorant, and even an alien. The controversy has damaged Musk's image in Ukraine and led to concerns over relying on one individual for important resources like Starlink.
The Senate Committee on Armed Services is planning to investigate Elon Musk over his decision to shut off access to SpaceX's Starlink in Crimea during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, questioning the extent of Musk's control over the use of his network and the potential national security risks posed by contractors independently discontinuing services.
Elon Musk refused to allow Ukraine to use SpaceX's Starlink satellite communications to launch a surprise drone submarine attack on Russian forces in Crimea, citing concerns of a nuclear response from Russia. This decision has drawn praise from Russian President Vladimir Putin and has prompted a Senate probe into Musk's actions. Additionally, Musk is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss artificial intelligence. However, Musk is also facing accusations of tolerating antisemitic messages on his social media platform.
Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), has announced cuts to the platform's election integrity team, stating that they were undermining election integrity.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is being sued by the SEC for his refusal to testify in a probe regarding his acquisition of Twitter and potential violations of federal securities laws.
The European Union has given Elon Musk 24 hours to explain plans to combat the dissemination of illegal content and disinformation, particularly Hamas videos, on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, warning of potential penalties if he fails to respond.
The European Union has warned Elon Musk to remove violent and terrorist content from X (formerly Twitter) or potentially face investigations and penalties under the Digital Services Act.
