If, for many, Starlink represents a lifeline, others warn it could bring serious security and political risks; in a conflict-ridden country, internet access is as much about power and control, according to an analysis published by Internews’s staff Saoussen Ben Cheikh
Ben Cheikh noticed that Houthi rebels in Sanaa has condemned the Starlink deal with the Internationally Recognized Government of Yemen, calling it “dangerous” and a “violation of Yemeni sovereignty.” They argue that the service poses “a direct threat to national security,” jeopardizing the societal fabric and undermining the government’s ability to safeguard citizens’ privacy and data.
They have officially banned Starlink, warning residents against using the service and vowing to take “necessary measures” to protect the country’s sovereignty — a veiled threat to anyone caught accessing the network.
Ben Cheikh also noticed that at the same time, the US Embassy in Yemen was quick to praise the move as a “milestone” for connectivity in the country.
She concluded that the fear of espionage and data security breaches is real. Information collected through the satellite internet could potentially be used for intelligence gathering or economic exploitation.
Starlink’s arrival in Yemen is also complicated by the political baggage of its deeply polarizing billionaire founder, Elon Musk. His public role in the new Trump administration, his support for far-right ideologies, his engagement with conspiracy theories, and erratic social media behaviour have drawn sharp criticism over Starlink’s expansion into conflict zones.
It is not the first time that Musk has stepped in to provide internet access to war zones or humanitarian crises. Following international pressure, he activated Starlink over parts of Gaza after Israel’s destruction of the strip’s telecommunications networks early in the war. Similarly, Starlink played a critical role in Ukraine, where it was deployed to support civilian and military communication following Russia’s invasion of the country.
Starlink’s operations in politically sensitive regions raise questions about whether the service is being used as a tool for broader US strategic interests. In Syria, despite the absence of an official service, Starlink has been accessible. Meanwhile, in Iran, claims were made that dissidents used Starlink during the 2022 protests to bypass government censorship, organize demonstrations, and communicate with the outside world.
If Yemen’s national telecom sector fails to improve service and reduce prices, citizens will increasingly turn to Starlink, increasing dependence on a foreign-controlled digital infrastructure and potentially ceding control over data to external actors.
While Starlink offers a breakthrough in digital access, its implications go far beyond mere connectivity — raising pressing questions about the role of private corporations in controlling information access, the risks of espionage, economic sovereignty, data security, and geopolitical influence.
Under the CLOUD Act, the US government has the authority to access data stored by American companies, including SpaceX, without requiring the consent of the user or local authorities. This means that Yemeni user data — ranging from browsing activity to location tracking — could potentially be accessed by US agencies, raising fears of espionage, surveillance, and economic exploitation.