Does Access to Starlink Improve Criminal Capability in the Amazon?

Since 2022, the rapid adoption of Starlink satellite broadband in the Brazilian Amazon has coincided with an increase in wildfire-driven forest degradation, despite ongoing government efforts to combat environmental crime. Recent trends indicate a tactical shift: fire-related clearings, which were historically uncommon, now account for an increasing share of deforestation alerts reported by authorities. Our estimates suggest that Starlink's improved connectivity facilitated arson-related practices, potentially leading to broader deforestation through successive disturbances. Additionally, there is no evidence that environmental enforcement has become more effective. Illicit actors have largely benefited from improved connectivity, while regulatory agencies have lagged behind, likely due to bureaucratic delays and concerns about information security. These results highlight an unexpected social and environmental cost of the rapid expansion of telecommunications in remote areas, highlighting the need to align connectivity policies with targeted monitoring and prompt enforcement to prevent technology-enhanced environmental harm.