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Isaacson Clarifies Reporting on Starlink and Ukraine After Washington Post Excerpt Causes Confusion

  • Walter Isaacson clarified reporting about Elon Musk cutting off Starlink access for Ukraine's military. The original excerpt said Musk secretly disabled it during an attack, but Isaacson later said it was already offline.

  • The Washington Post published an excerpt from Isaacson's biography claiming Musk turned off Starlink coverage near Crimea as Ukraine attacked Russia's navy.

  • Isaacson tweeted that Ukraine thought Starlink access reached Crimea but it did not. They asked Musk to enable it for their attack, but he declined.

  • Isaacson admitted on Twitter that he mistakenly thought Musk decided to cut access the night of the attack, when in fact the policy predated it.

  • The Post added a correction to their article, saying Isaacson "mischaracterized" the circumstances around Starlink's outage during the attempted Ukrainian attack.

mediaite.com
Relevant topic timeline:
Musk Declines to Expand Starlink in Crimea, Drawing Ire From Ukraine
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has faced criticism from Ukraine after it was revealed that he ordered his engineers to turn off his Starlink satellite network in order to prevent a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s naval fleet, a decision he made to avoid escalating tensions and potential nuclear conflict.
Musk Refused Ukraine's Request to Use Starlink Against Russian Fleet Over Nuclear Fears
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.
Musk's Actions Raise Concerns Over Starlink's Role in Ukraine War
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.
Blinken Won't Confirm Musk Blocked Starlink in Ukraine, Fearing Nuclear Escalation
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.
Putin Praises Musk and Trump, Defends Their Actions Against Criticism
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.
Musk denies Ukraine military Starlink access during planned attack, prompting backlash for aiding Russia
Elon Musk faces backlash and accusations of treason over his decision to deny Ukraine access to Starlink during their conflict with Russia.
Democratic Senators Question Pentagon on Musk's Control of Starlink in Ukraine
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.
Ukrainians Feel Betrayed After Musk Rejects Starlink Reactivation in Crimea
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.
Senate Seeks Details on Elon Musk's Actions With Starlink in Ukraine
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.
Musk Sparks Controversy By Rejecting Ukraine's Request to Use Starlink for Drone Attack
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.
Starlink Satellite Internet Coming Soon to Flights, If Airlines Pay for It: Musk
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that Starlink satellite internet service will soon be accessible on most aircraft, allowing passengers to access streaming-capable internet, video calls, online gaming, and more.