Elon Musk poses a clear and present danger to American national security. The sooner the US government revokes his security clearance, terminates its contracts with him and the entities he controls, and builds its own alternatives to Starlink and SpaceX, the safer America will be. (emphasis mine$

The government not doing that in the first place lead to SpaceX having the monopoly, so I think that is part of the problem.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

‘Musk’s SpaceX has nearly total control of the world’s satellite internet through its Starlink unit.’

The British, on the other hand, have a competing satellite network, OneWeb, which is the principal competitor of, and doing a rather poor job of competing with Starlink.

I don't feel a burning need to go look to a British newspaper for advice as to whether-or-not to use an American satellite network versus a British satellite network.

If you guys across the pond want to use OneWeb instead, knock yourselves out.

EDIT: And speaking of national security, the last time we were relying on a British global network for intercontinental communications, we wound up with British intelligence spying on our diplomatic communications channels. Thanks, but I'm pretty comfortable using an American network.

[–] OhNoMoreLemmy@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Robert Reich, a former US secretary of labor, is professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley

[–] tal@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Yup, but in a British newspaper.

The Brits have pretty adverse interests on this matter. I think that American communications security is a debate that doesn't need to involve the British, can be done perfectly fine among ourselves.

EDIT: I'd also add that Reich isn't the guy to raise the matter either; it's not his area of expertise. If, say, the NSA or friends raise it as an issue -- we pay a large number of full-time domain experts to secure our communications -- then I think that'd be an interesting topic.

[–] trajekolus@lemm.ee 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Do you really need to be an expert to see a problem with Musk's Russian sympathies?

[–] Cube6392 4 points 1 day ago

or with letting single billionaire control this much infrastructure

[–] trajekolus@lemm.ee 6 points 1 day ago

Reich did not suggest using a British alternative.
His words from the article: "The sooner the US government revokes his security clearance, terminates its contracts with him and the entities he controls, and builds its own alternatives to Starlink and SpaceX, the safer America will be"