Elon Musk is a revolutionary innovator whose works have been reflected in a variety of different industries from electric vehicles to reusable rockets to artificial intelligence and to so much more. There has been no more pressing application of his ideologies than in the recent Ukrainian conflict.
In late November, the Ukrainian navy attempted to breach a naval blockade set up by the Russian Navy near the Kerch Straits that leads from the Black Sea into the Sea of Azov. In response, the Russian forces opened fire on the Ukrainian ships and captured them.
In light of the circumstances, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors, SpaceX, and Neuralink, decided to take quick action. He took to Twitter to announce that he had cut internet access to the Ukrainian military during the attack. Musk stated that he was “taking immediate action to stem the tide of the attack” which was a clear indication that he wanted to show his support to Ukraine in the conflict.
The move was welcomed by the Ukrainian President, Petro Poroshenko who praised Musk for his contribution, calling it “an important, if not decisive, step in the course of Ukraine’s defense”. He further thanked him for the “quick response” that Musk had taken in recognizing the significance of the attack.
The move has received mixed reactions among the tech experts. Some believe that the internet blackout was an infringement of basic human rights while others conferred it as a sign of cooperation between tech giants and governments.
However, Musk’s move, whether controversial or not, is a testament to how modern technology is increasingly being used as an effective weapon in international conflicts. Musk has always been at the helm of inculcating cutting age technology into society and this move by him signifies his willingness to use tech to solve geo-political issues. As we move into the future, one can only hope that technology can be used to curb geo-political conflicts instead of worsening them.