Another reason not to use Starlink: "All your data are ours" by default.

[usonian]

Musk's Starlink updates privacy policy to allow consumer data to train AI
By David Jeans and Joey Roulette
January 30, 20263

https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/musks-starlink-updates-privacy-policy-allow-consumer-data-train-ai-2026-01-30/

Starlink updated its Global Privacy Policy on January 15, according to the Starlink website. The policy includes new details stating that unless a user opts out, Starlink data may be used “to train our machine learning or artificial intelligence models” and could be shared with the company’s service providers and “third-party collaborators,” without providing further details.

A previous version of the privacy policy, an archived version from November and reviewed by Reuters, did not contain language about AI training on Starlink data.

Starlink collects vast amounts of user data, spanning location information, credit card information, contact information and user IP addresses. It also collects so-called communication data, which includes audio and visual information, data in shared files, and “inferences we may make from other personal information we collect,” according to its global privacy policy.

The policy did not make clear exactly what data would be used to train AI. The move has raised concerns among privacy advocates and consumer rights groups, which argue that using personal data to train AI risks expanding surveillance and creates new avenues for misuse.

Starlink, a network of more than 9,000 satellites, currently provides internet connection to more than 9 million users.

[Tasmanian Devil]

1. Trust Musk?

So if you opt-out, you're going to trust Musk to pay attention to your choice and filter out your data from the fire-hose of information used to train his AI? And you're going to verify this how?

Um, would you also like to buy a bridge? There's one in Brooklyn that I can get for you really cheap!

[CentralMass]

2. Lord Elmo owning it is enough of a deterrent for me.

[HAB911]

3. Which begs a question

T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon are among the cell companies that use Starlink for satellite-based text messaging services, currently.
T-Mobile is the only U.S. operator with a direct Starlink agreement.

T-Mobile: Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell (DTC) technology allows standard, unmodified smartphones to connect directly to satellites—no special hardware or apps required. Each satellite carries an onboard LTE payload that behaves like a cell tower in low Earth orbit, enabling text, data, and eventually voice services

AT&T and Verizon Satellite Strategy is with AST SpaceMobile who is building a separate constellation

https://www.deadzones.com/2025/08/starlink-carriers-t-mobile-vs-at-and.html

[Jedi Guy]

4. That's true of just about every Internet service provider.

Just one more reason to have a VPN service.