US govt looking into Musk's Starlink over Myanmar scam hubs

Building of scam centres has resumed, with many carrying Starlink’s internet dishes

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Scam centres in Myanmar blamed for swindling billions from victims across the world are expanding fast just months after a crackdown that was supposed to eradicate them, an AFP investigation has found.

New buildings have been springing up inside the heavily guarded compounds around Myawaddy on the Thailand-Myanmar border at a dizzying pace, with others festooned with dishes for Mr Elon Musk’s Starlink service, satellite images and AFP drone footage show.

Starlink has gone from nowhere at the time of the crackdown in February to becoming Myanmar’s biggest internet provider every day from July 3 until Oct 1, according to data from the Apnic Asian regional internet registry.

The US Congress Joint Economic Committee told AFP that it has begun an investigation into Starlink’s involvement with the centres.

SpaceX, which owns Starlink, did not reply to AFP requests for comment.