WASHINGTON: Planet Labs, a satellite imagery provider, announced on Saturday that it will indefinitely suspend sharing visuals of Iran and conflict zones in the Middle East to adhere to a directive from the U.S. government.
The California-based company conveyed this decision through an email to its clients, explaining that the U.S. authorities have requested all satellite imagery providers to halt sharing images of the conflict area indefinitely.
This move extends a previous 14-day restriction imposed last month by Planet Labs, which aimed to prevent hostile actors from utilizing the imagery to target the U.S. and its allies. The company stated it will cease providing images dating back to March 9 and expects the policy to remain in place until the conflict concludes.
The ongoing conflict was triggered when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. The situation escalated as Tehran responded with missile attacks on Israel and U.S. military bases across Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Satellite technology plays a crucial role in military operations such as target identification, missile guidance, and communications. Some experts suggest Iran may have access to commercial satellite images, including those obtained through adversaries of the U.S. and its allies. These images are also vital for journalists and researchers studying inaccessible regions.
Planet Labs, which operates a large fleet of Earth observation satellites and supplies images to governments, corporations, and media outlets, did not respond to requests for further comments. The Pentagon declined to comment on intelligence-related issues.
The company stated it would transition to a “managed distribution system” for images that pose no security risk. Under this new approach, imagery will be released on a case-by-case basis for urgent, mission-critical needs, or in the public interest.“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are making efforts to balance the needs of our stakeholders,” Planet Labs said.
Another commercial provider, Vantor (formerly Maxar Technologies), told Reuters that it was not contacted by the U.S. government. Vantor has had policies in place for years that restrict access to certain images during times of geopolitical tension, especially in regions where U.S. military operations are active. These controls can include limiting who can request or purchase images of specific areas.
A third provider, BlackSky Technology, was approached for comment but did not respond immediately.
