The fight for informational freedom is gaining momentum, and it's not just happening on Earth. With the launch of Starlink, a satellite firm pioneered by Elon Musk, and China's plans to deploy thousands of satellites, the battle for control of global information is shifting to the skies. Starlink has already made a significant impact, providing reliable internet connectivity to Ukraine and potentially empowering dissidents and humanitarian organizations. However, China's state-backed Qianfan conglomerate is not far behind, with plans to launch 600 satellites by the end of 2025 and 14,000 by 2030.

But what does this mean for American security? The proliferation of Chinese satellites could increase their ability to carry out surveillance activities and augment their media censorship capabilities. Moreover, global demand for telecommunications is exploding in places like Africa, where the continent's population of 1.3 billion is currently just 40 percent wired. If countries there and elsewhere embrace China's growing telecommunications offerings, it will profoundly shape the information their populations consume—and therefore how they will think about the world.

"What if China's satellites become the dominant force in global telecommunications?" What might the consequences be for global freedom and American security? The answer lies in the unique properties of space-based communication, which can provide information direct to the end user and circumvent attempts by states to control information. In other words, space-based communications can be used to connect poorly-served communities, empower embattled opposition forces, and break the growing authoritarian stranglehold on information.

But will this be a zero-sum game, where the more nations connected to China's satellites, the smaller the global audience share left for Starlink or other Western conglomerates? Or can Starlink succeed in creating a pluralistic, open global media environment, one in which it will be much more difficult for China to propagandize, isolate, and influence?

Only one of these pathways benefits American security. It's up to policymakers in Washington to empower Starlink and promote a global information environment that is free, open, and pluralistic.

The Battle for Global Information: A Fight for Freedom in Space

Actions