WSJ Tech News Briefing TNB Tech Minute: SpaceX Restricts “Unauthorized Use” of Starlink By Russian Drones
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Feb 2, 2026 Chris Lyon, a technology executive at Twilio who focuses on AI-driven customer personalization, joins to discuss how AI tailors customer journeys at scale. He also comments on Starlink restricting unauthorized use by Russian drones and the coordination behind whitelisting terminals. Short takes touch on U.S. plans for a rare-earth stockpile and Saks winding down its Amazon storefront.
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Starlink Access Locked To Authorized Terminals
- SpaceX disabled unauthorized Starlink terminals used by Russian drones after Ukraine asked for help.
- Ukraine and SpaceX now coordinate a whitelist to ensure only verified terminals work in Ukrainian territory.
Project Vault Aims To Secure Critical Minerals
- The U.S. is preparing Project Vault, a roughly $12 billion critical-mineral stockpile to reduce reliance on China.
- The plan mixes private capital with a $10 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank and has dozens of company participants.
Saks Winds Down Amazon Storefront
- Saks' parent will wind down its Amazon partnership after a limited rollout following its December 2024 deal.
- The storefront saw limited brand participation, so Saks will refocus on driving traffic to its own site.