Blocking Starlink access in iOS 18.3

Booboo1111 wrote:

I refuse to update and just ordered my first Chinese phone. I trust them with my data more than Elonia and Google, and other USA tech oligarchs.

Great move, you can have the People’s Republic of China spy on you. All content on Chinese phones (even iPhones) is stored on servers in China, and Chinese security services have access to all of it.

Yes, and I agree. I went into an Apple Store this Saturday to ask this question and they gave me “incomplete” info, assuring me that Apple was not using StarLink at this time. Well, not true. I have been using Apple products since 1985 and this is the first time I am seriously thinking of trading in my IPhone and IPad.

I refuse to update my new phone until they do not automatically add Starlink. I have always used Apple products, but now I’m going to have to take my business elsewhere. I will not stand for teaming up with criminals.

Wow, I was the very first person to reply to this thread, and look how far it’s become. Every day the pages just keep growing, we are now at 16, and most people don’t even bother to read the answers provided and just keep piling on.

If Apple just enabled some hardware/software needed to connect to starlink only, that’s highly concerning. If it can connect to any satellite not limited to starlink / only limited by carrier, then sure that’s fine — if it’s actually optional. 

We know Apple devices can be tracked even when location is disabled and when phone is off.. and often, not all features that facilitate surveillance without consent are fully advertised to public. Also sneaking in Apple intelligence (forced on us through the update), and not giving a heads up is also suspect. And the CEO donating a million $ to the pres inauguration party to signal compliance with an authoritarian regime is also highly concerning. People have reason to be concerned. That is the point. And they don’t want more of their private info stolen by apartheid techno-brat billionaire oligarchs. 

Folks may be somewhat misinformed about how this satellite service works, but a lot of the folks getting lost in semantics here are missing the bigger sentiment and message. However, the clarity is appreciated and I’m sure folks get it now from you and several others sharing the same explanation. 

The bigger message that might be getting lost is that people are pushing back on anything possibly associated with starlink / musk or his rich buddies. Hopefully Apple gets that larger message. 

[Edited by Moderator]

xrayman394 wrote:

Thanks!

I strongly suggest NOT updating to 18.3 until we know more, we must try and learn more about this before upgrading.

You're welcome.

The world has only had Cell phones the last few years.

Motorola released their brick cell phone 42 years ago in 1983.

Car Phones have been around since 1946.

True, but they weren't cellular.

Kurtosis12 wrote:

The world has only had Cell phones the last few years.

Motorola released their brick cell phone 42 years ago in 1983.

I had my first handheld Motorola flip phone in 1988.

I remember those, the gray plastic flip phones.

And they cost as much as iPhones do today, adjusting for inflation. Service was $250 a month for 50 minutes of talk time, no text yet.

Yes, and we paid 25 cents a minute for premium talk time & 10 cents a minute after 8:00pm and weekends