{
  "id": 13364264,
  "title": "Kamal Haasan hits back at Elon Musk on satcom row",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/kamal-haasan-hits-back-at-elon-musk-on-satcom-row",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-10T08:22:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-a-democracy-not-colony-kamal-haasan-hits-back-at-elon-musk-on-satellite-internet-policy/articleshow/134850453.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chennai, India: Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has responded to criticism from billionaire SpaceX CEO Elon Musk over Starlink's regulatory delays in India. Haasan emphasized that no billionaire should dictate a nation's policy, asserting that India's national security safeguards are non-negotiable. Musk, he noted, should understand that no billionaire should dictate a nation's policy, be it Indian or American. Haasan also called for increased competition in satellite internet, from Indian and global providers alike, as long as the solution is practical and affordable for remote regions. He stressed that high subscription fees and equipment costs risk making satellite internet unaffordable for ordinary households, potentially widening the digital divide instead of bridging it. Haasan pointed out that every country makes decisions based on its own interests, including the West which imposes tariffs on Chinese EVs to protect its domestic industry, just as India takes measures to protect its own domestic manufacturers. He highlighted India's BharatNet program, which aims to bring broadband to village-level local bodies, pointing out that despite significant investment, only 33.2% of service-ready Gram Panchayats are operational. At the same time, Haasan acknowledged the affordability of internet data in India, which has brought millions online. He emphasized that India is a democracy, not a colony, and the Indian people will decide their own future, not Western vested interests or the agenda of any billionaire, Indian or American.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Business Insider",
        "title": "Delta CEO says there's no Elon Musk feud: 'I drive a Tesla'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/delta-ceo-says-theres-no-elon-musk-feud-i-drive-a-tesla",
        "published": "2026-10-09T17:09:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}