Digital Colonialism: From Operation Ajax to Starlink (Iran)

In 1953, when the United States wanted to change the direction of Iranian politics, it required a complex, dangerous, and expensive operation. The CIA had to smuggle agents into Tehran, bribe newspaper editors with suitcases of cash, and hire street thugs to incite riots. It was a physical invasion of Iran’s sovereignty, executed from the shadows.

In the 2020s, the US government found a way to achieve similar disruption without a single boot on the ground. They didn’t need spies; they just needed a satellite dish.

As we explore the shifting dynamics of the Global order, we must recognize that the frontline of sovereignty has moved from the border crossing to the stratosphere. We are entering the era of Digital Colonialism.

The concept is simple but terrifying for sovereign states: If a private American company can beam the internet into your country against your will bypassing your laws, your censors, and your kill switches, do you really control your country? In Iran, the answer has increasingly become “No.” The deployment of Starlink during the Mahsa Amini protests (2022) and subsequent unrest has set a precedent that has terrified dictators and democracies alike.

1. 1953 vs. 2022: History Rhymes (Operation Ajax)

To understand the fear in Tehran today, you must understand the trauma of yesterday.

The 1953 Precedent: Operation Ajax

In the early 1950s, Iran’s Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh committed the ultimate sin: he nationalized the Iranian oil industry, kicking out the British. In response, the CIA and MI6 launched Operation Ajax.

• The Tool: Propaganda and paid unrest. They used radio broadcasts (Voice of America) and planted articles in Tehran newspapers to turn public opinion against Mosaddegh.

• The Result: The democratic government fell, and the Shah (a monarch friendly to the West) was installed.

• The Lesson: Iran learned that “Information Flow” is a vector for regime change.

The 2022 Precedent: The Mahsa Amini Protests

Fast forward nearly 70 years. When widespread protests erupted over the death of Mahsa Amini, the Iranian regime did what it always does: it pulled the plug. They initiated a total internet blackout to stop protesters from organizing.

• The New Tool: This time, the US didn’t send agents; they sent bandwidth.

• The Outcome: Starlink terminals were activated over Iran. Unlike 1953, where the US government had to act covertly, in 2022, a private billionaire (Elon Musk) announced the intervention publicly on Twitter (now X).

The parallel is undeniable. In 1953, the US breached Iran’s political borders to restore the flow of oil. In 2022, the US breached Iran’s digital borders to restore the flow of data. For the Iranian leadership, Starlink is simply Operation Ajax 2.0.

2. The Tech Weapon: “The Sky is Open”

Why is Digital Colonialism so much more effective than traditional sanctions? Because of the physics of Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

For decades, digital sovereignty was easy to enforce. The internet came into a country through subsea fiber-optic cables. These cables landed at physical “Landing Stations.” If a government wanted to censor the internet, they simply placed a firewall at the landing station. If they wanted to stop the internet, they simply turned off the switch. It was a “Chokepoint” architecture.

The Death of the Chokepoint

Starlink destroys this architecture.

• The Mesh: Starlink operates a constellation of thousands of satellites flying at ~550km altitude. They beam data directly to a user’s “Dishy” (terminal) on the ground.

• The Bypass: The data never touches Iran’s state-controlled fiber infrastructure. It goes from a ground station in Turkey or Kuwait, up to a satellite, and down to a user in Tehran.

• The Impossibility of Defense: For Iran to block Starlink, they would have to jam the entire sky (which disrupts their own communications) or shoot down US satellites (an act of war).

During the height of the protests, activists smuggled Starlink terminals across the Kurdish border in the back of trucks, hidden inside air conditioning units and household appliances. Once powered on, these terminals created “Digital Safe Zones” bubbles of American internet inside Iranian territory.

3. The Legal Shift: “General License D-2”

While Elon Musk is the face of this technology, the Digital Colonialism strategy was legally enabled by the US Treasury.

On September 23, 2022, the US Treasury Department issued General License D-2. This was a boring bureaucratic document with explosive geopolitical implications.

The License to Intervene

Previously, US technology sanctions on Iran were strict. Selling high-tech equipment to Iran was a felony. General License D-2 changed the rules. It explicitly authorized the export of software, hardware, and services that support “internet freedom” and “communication.”

• The Interpretation: The US government effectively deputized Big Tech. They told Google, AWS, and SpaceX: “You are now allowed—and encouraged—to breach Iran’s digital blockade.”

• The Weaponization: This blurred the line between the private sector and the state. When Starlink beams internet into Iran, is it a private service, or is it a US foreign policy operation? To Tehran, Beijing, and Moscow, the distinction is meaningless.

This license legitimized Digital Interventionism. It established a new norm: If a country’s internet laws violate “Human Rights” (as defined by Washington), US companies have the legal green light to override those laws.

4. Digital Colonialism: Who Rules the Network?

This brings us to the core definition of Digital Colonialism.

Classical colonialism was about occupying land to extract resources. Digital Colonialism is about occupying infrastructure to extract influence.

When a country like Iran, Nigeria, or Brazil relies on US digital infrastructure (Google, AWS, Starlink), they are subject to US law, US surveillance, and US foreign policy whims.

The Privatization of Geopolitics

The most jarring aspect of the Starlink precedent is the centralization of power in one individual. Elon Musk, a private citizen, had the power to decide if the Iranian opposition had a voice.

• In Ukraine: Musk provided Starlink, saving the Ukrainian army’s communications.

• In Taiwan: As we discussed in the Silicon Shield Paradox, Taiwan is terrified that Musk (who has deep business ties to China via Tesla) might not turn on Starlink in the event of a Chinese invasion.

This creates a world where the “Digital Rights” of a nation depend on the Terms of Service of a private corporation. This is the essence of Digital Colonialism. Sovereignty is eroded not by treaties, but by user agreements.

5. The Global Reaction: “Sovereign Internets”

The world was watching Iran closely. The success of Starlink in bypassing the Iranian firewall sent shockwaves through the “Digital Non-Aligned Movement.”

• China: Accelerated its own LEO constellation (“Guowang” or Starnet) to ensure it has a physical alternative to Starlink. China also tightened its “Great Firewall” to inspect satellite traffic.

• India: As we will explore in our upcoming topic on “India’s Vishwa Mitra Strategy,” New Delhi has been extremely hesitant to grant Starlink a license. They demand that the data be routed through Indian “Gateways” so the government retains the ability to monitor traffic. They refuse to allow the “Direct-to-Device” freedom that was seen in Iran.

• Brazil: In 2024, Brazil threatened to revoke Starlink’s license if X (formerly Twitter) did not comply with local court orders. It was a direct clash between Digital Colonialism (US tech power) and Digital Sovereignty (Brazilian Law).

The Starlink precedent in Iran proved that the US has a “Digital Backdoor” into any country on Earth. The result? Every major power is now rushing to build their own locks.

Conclusion: The End of Borders

The story of Starlink in Iran is not just a tech story; it is a story about the end of the Westphalian nation-state.

For 300 years, a country was defined by its physical borders. If you controlled the land, you controlled the people. Digital Colonialism has rendered that definition obsolete. You can control the land, you can have the army on the streets, but if the sky above you belongs to a foreign tech giant, you have lost control of the narrative.

As we move toward 2030, the battle will not just be for territory, but for the “Orbital Layer.” Who controls the satellites controls the truth. And right now, that control is overwhelmingly concentrated in the hands of one country and one company.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is Digital Colonialism?
A: Digital Colonialism refers to the dominance of Western (primarily US) technology companies over the digital infrastructure of other nations. It allows these entities to control data, influence culture, and bypass local laws, effectively treating other nations as digital colonies.

Q2: Did Starlink actually work in Iran during the protests?
A: Yes. While exact numbers are hard to verify, thousands of Starlink terminals were smuggled into Iran. They provided a critical lifeline for activists to upload videos of the protests to social media when the government shut down the local internet.

Q3: What is Operation Ajax?
A: Operation Ajax was a covert CIA/MI6 operation in 1953 that orchestrated the overthrow of Iran’s democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh. It is viewed by Iranians as the original sin of US interventionism.

Q4: Is Starlink illegal in Iran?
A: Yes. The Iranian government considers the use of Starlink to be a crime and an act of espionage. The terminals are banned, and the regime actively attempts to jam the satellite signals (though with limited success due to the physics of phased-array antennas).

Q5: Can other countries block Starlink?
A: It is very difficult technically. You cannot “firewall” it. You have to physically find the user terminals (which emit radio waves) or jam the specific frequencies over a wide area, which causes collateral damage to other communications.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is based on historical events (1953) and geopolitical trends regarding satellite technology and sanctions (2022-2026). The concept of Digital Colonialism is a framework for analysis. This content is for informational purposes only.

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