Human rights advocacy group Burma Campaign UK has officially added Elon Musk’s SpaceX—the parent company of satellite internet provider Starlink—alongside 53 other international corporations to its infamous “Dirty List”.
The updated registry highlights foreign companies accused of directly or indirectly aiding Myanmar’s military regime through business operations, technology transfers, energy services, or commercial partnerships. The addition of 53 new entities from 17 countries (including the U.S., U.K., and E.U.) brings the total number of blacklisted corporations to 228.
The Starlink paradox: Education lifeline vs. tool for criminals
SpaceX’s inclusion follows an urgent appeal by 255 Myanmar civil society organizations (CSOs) regarding Starlink internet service disruptions across the country.
The CSOs described the satellite service as a “matter of life and death,” noting that over 800,000 students rely on Starlink connections to access 6,000 virtual schools operated by the underground National Unity Government (NUG).
However, Burma Campaign UK warned that the technology is a double-edged sword:
- Unsanctioned Exploitation: Illicit Starlink terminals and international telecommunications hardware continue to be actively exploited by military-owned enterprises and affiliated criminal networks along Myanmar’s porous borders.
- Lack of Oversight: Big tech firms have failed to implement effective safeguards to prevent their hardware and infrastructure from being co-opted by state-backed illicit actors.
Burma Campaign UK "Dirty List" Expansion
├── New Additions: 53 international corporations across 17 countries
├── Total Blacklisted Companies: 228 entities
└── Key Western Tech & Energy Additions:
├── Tech Sector: SpaceX (Starlink), Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Fortinet
└── Oil & Gas Sector: Halliburton, SLB (Schlumberger)
‘Big Tech Is the New Big Tobacco’
Burma Campaign UK noted that the corporations were added to the list following exhaustive reviews of corporate registry records, U.N. documentation, and local civil society reports. The group contacted almost all affected firms prior to publication, offering them an opportunity to clarify their operations or cut ties with the military regime.
Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK, issued a scathing rebuke of multinational corporations operating in conflict zones: “No company can claim to have ethical or socially responsible policies and at the same time be linked to the genocidal Burmese military,” Farmaner stated.
“Big techs are the new big tobacco, operating without ethics, seemingly happy to provide services to the Burmese military regardless of their human rights record.”
Funding an air war executed ‘Every 2.5 hours’
The rights group stressed that international corporate engagement directly fuels the regime’s military logistics, particularly its devastating aerial campaign against civilian communities.
According to data compiled by DVB, regime forces have carried out at least 3,576 aerial attacks nationwide since March 2025, killing at least 2,510 civilians.
| Military Operation Metric | Documented Figure |
| Airstrikes Executed (Since March 2025) | 3,576 attacks |
| Confirmed Civilian Deaths from Air Campaign | 2,510 fatalities |
| Frequency of Junta Airstrikes | 1 airstrike every 2.5 hours |
“The Burmese military carries out an airstrike every two and a half hours. It is inexplicable that so many companies appear unconcerned that they are providing assistance to the military,” Farmaner added.
“That’s incredibly expensive and the Burmese military couldn’t do it without help from international companies which help arm them, finance them, and provide technology to them.”
