A golden share isn't that sinister to be fair. It's mainly there to ensure companies that have a controlling power within an industry can't just up and change their business practices.

BT (British Telecoms) is a good example of another company that has one. They supply the vast majority of telephone and cable internet connections around the UK, and other companies pay to be able use those connections. The golden share ensures they can't just go "we're shutting down all our connections next week" as it would affect too much infrastructure.

SpaceX presumably has the same sort of thing with their satellites. They can't just shut them down if it'll affect the companies that use them.

A golden share isn't that sinister to be fair. It's mainly there to ensure companies that have a controlling power within an industry can't just up and change their business practices.

BT (British Telecoms) is a good example of another company that has one. They supply the vast majority of telephone and cable internet connections around the UK, and other companies pay to be able use those connections. The golden share ensures they can't just go "were shutting down all our connections next week" as it would affect too much infrastructure.

SpaceX presumably has the same sort of thing with their satellites. They can't just shut them down if it'll affect the companies that use them.