Will Eutelsat ever replace SpaceX in Ukraine one day ?
The arrangement between Poland and SpaceX for providing Starlink internet access to the Ukrainian military involves Poland's Ministry of Digitization funding the service at an annual cost of approximately $50 million.
In addition, Poland has also supplied about half of Ukraine's Starlink terminals, totaling over 20,000 since 2022, which are essential for maintaining military and civilian communications amidst the war. Polish officials have emphasized that they are responsible for covering subscription fees and ensuring the continuity of this critical infrastructure.
However, in light of recent tensions with Elon Musk, Poland has warned that it may seek alternative providers if SpaceX is deemed unreliable, with potential options including the Paris-based satellite communications company Eutelsat.
Recent evolution of the situation in March 2025
The relationship between Poland and SpaceX has evolved significantly over time, marked by both collaboration and recent tensions.
Early days Collaboration
Poland and SpaceX initially developed a productive partnership, with SpaceX playing a key role in launching Poland's EagleEye satellite in 2024. This mission, conducted from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, was a landmark achievement for Poland's growing space sector. It showcased Poland's increasing technological capabilities in satellite development and its ability to collaborate on complex space missions with international partners like SpaceX
Support for Ukraine
Poland has also been a major financial supporter of SpaceX's Starlink services for Ukraine's army, which support has been critical for maintaining Ukraine's communications infrastructure during its war with Russia.
Tensions and Recent Developments
The relationship has recently become strained due to Elon Musk's warnings about potentially cutting off Starlink access to Ukraine. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski criticized Musk for his remarks, questioning the ethics of threatening a country under attack. In response, Musk dismissed Sikorski's concerns and emphasized Starlink's indispensability to Ukraine's military efforts.
Future Outlook
While Poland and Ukraine continues to rely on SpaceX for critical services, the recent tensions highlight the challenges of depending on private technology providers in geopolitically sensitive situations. Poland’s exploration of alternatives may signal a shift toward diversifying its partnerships in the space and satellite communication sectors.
The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into TikTok for alleged violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA) following attempts to interfere in the Romanian presidential election. This follows serious indications that foreign actors may have used TikTok to influence the election, in particular by supporting far-right candidate Calin Georgescu.
Romanian authorities revealed that 25,000 TikTok accounts were suddenly activated a few weeks before the first round of the election, massively promoting Georgescu without properly tagging election content. This coordinated manipulation raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and TikTok's ability to manage systemic election risks.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "We must protect our democracies from any form of foreign interference. Whenever we suspect such interference, especially during elections, we must act quickly and decisively. This is the perfect opportunity to test the effectiveness of the Digital Services Act in real life, which is exactly what it was created for.
The investigation will focus on TikTok's referral systems and its policies on political advertising and paid content. The Commission will examine whether TikTok failed in its duty of care to mitigate the risks posed by specific regional and linguistic aspects of national elections.
This case highlights the critical importance of transparency and accountability of online platforms in protecting the integrity of democratic processes in Europe.
#TikTok #DigitalServicesAct #RussianInterference #RomanianElections #EuropeanCommission
TikTok a-t-il laissé manipuler l'opinion roumaine ou a-t-il favorisé une ingérence russe dans un processus électoral européen ?
La Commission européenne a lancé une enquête formelle contre TikTok pour des infractions présumées au Digital Services Act (DSA) suite aux tentatives d'ingérence russe lors des élections présidentielles en Roumanie. Cette décision fait suite à des indications sérieuses selon lesquelles des acteurs étrangers auraient utilisé TikTok pour influencer les élections, notamment en soutenant le candidat d'extrême droite Calin Georgescu.
Les autorités roumaines ont révélé que 25 000 comptes TikTok ont été activés soudainement quelques semaines avant le premier tour des élections, promouvant massivement Georgescu sans marquage approprié des contenus électoraux. Cette manipulation coordonnée a soulevé des inquiétudes quant à l'intégrité du processus électoral et à la capacité de TikTok à gérer les risques systémiques liés aux élections.
La présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, a déclaré : "Nous devons protéger nos démocraties de toute forme d'ingérence étrangère. Chaque fois que nous soupçonnons une telle ingérence, en particulier pendant les élections, nous devons agir rapidement et fermement". Voilà une occasion rêvée de tester l'efficacité Digital Services Act en grandeur nature, ce pour quoi il a été créé.
L'enquête se concentrera sur les systèmes de recommandation de TikTok et ses politiques en matière de publicités politiques et de contenus payants. La Commission examinera si TikTok a manqué à ses obligations de diligence pour atténuer les risques posés par des aspects régionaux et linguistiques spécifiques des élections nationales.
Cette affaire souligne l'importance cruciale de la transparence et de la responsabilité des plateformes en ligne dans la protection de l'intégrité des processus démocratiques en Europe.
#TikTok #DigitalServicesAct #IngérenceRusse #ÉlectionsRoumaines #CommissionEuropéenne
Libération de Paul Watson militant, et retour en France
Affaire Paul Watson : le défenseur des baleines, blanchi par Copenhague, va pouvoir quitter sa prison
Le gouvernement danois refuse d’extrader vers le Japon le militant écologiste, incarcéré depuis cet été au Groenland. Le fondateur de l’ONG Sea Sheperd va pouvoir rentrer en France où il habite avec sa femme et ses deux jeunes enfants.Anaïs Moran (Libération)
