[mistrial9]

Starlink is widely used in deforestation and mining in Brazil. Elon Musk personally flew to Brazil to promote it (with Balsenero?), despite the predictions that Starlink would be used that way. The political pitch was that schools in the far reaches would use it - that has measurably failed to materialize. Meanwhile, Federal raids on gold mining operations show Starlink transceivers routinely.

source: Brazilian activist report

[blackhawkC17]

The issue is not Starlink. It's that the Brazilian government is too inept and corrupt to tackle illegal mining in its backyard. Many countries have huge landmasses (US, Canada, China, etc.), yet no one gets away with something as brash as illegal mining.

[prepend]

Chainsaws are used as well. And fossil fuels. And electricity.

I’m sure if the Feds raid gold mining they’ll find some copper wires and other infrastructure.

[dyauspitr]

Ah the why ban guns since knives can kill people too argument.

[prepend]

Different argument altogether.

Starlink does nothing special to enable mining. Thousands of people and industries use it. It’s just infrastructure.

I’m not arguing for replacements. I’m arguing that it’s stupid to blame infrastructure for the sins of the people using it.

That’s like blaming vegetables because Hitler was a vegetarian.

[mistrial9]

no it is nothing at all like blaming vegetables.. there is no cell phone coverage in the distant edges of inland Brazil.. and cell towers can track users.. Starlink directly enables clandestine communication where that is otherwise not possible.

[prepend]

But starlink does that for everyone. They don’t do anything special for mining.

Just like the mining operations use petroleum to mine. Petroleum directly enabled mining.

Mining uses electricity. Electricity directly enabled mining.

Directly enabling something doesn’t matter. If the tool is made to only do that, then it does. There are a lot of cases in the US about this. Like Betamax case where the court ruled that just being used for something illegal doesn’t give culpability, it’s necessary to be made specifically to do something illegal.

If starlink specifically added functionality to enable illegal mining then you might have a valid argument.

[mistrial9]

no - in those cases you mention there are alternatives or work-around products available.. what work-around product is available to have real-time communication from remote spots in the Brazilian territory ?

[alden5]

that's not a source, could you link the report?

[Qem]

https://www.brasildefato.com.br/2024/05/15/find-out-how-ille...

[xinayder]

and if someone questions this is a leftist website: https://fortune.com/2023/03/15/elon-musk-starlink-brazil-ama...

[tacker2000]

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