Satellite imaging firm Planet Labs says it will indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the region of conflict in the Middle East to comply with a request from the US government.
California-based Planet Labs announces the decision in an email to customers and says the US government had asked all satellite imagery providers to indefinitely withhold images of the conflict region.
The restriction expands upon a 14-day delay on imagery of the Middle East that Planet Labs imposed last month, a move the firm said was meant to prevent adversaries from using it to attack the US and its allies.
Planet Labs says it will withhold imagery dating back to March 9 and that it expects the policy to remain in effect until the conflict ends.
Military uses of satellite technology include target identification, weapons guidance, missile tracking and communications. Some space specialists say Iran could be accessing commercial imagery, including pictures obtained via US adversaries. Satellite images also help journalists and academicians studying hard-to-reach places.
Planet Labs, which operates a large fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and sells frequently updated images to governments, companies and media, did not respond to a request for further comment.
The Pentagon says it does not comment on intelligence-related matters.
Planet Labs says in its email to customers that it will switch to a “managed distribution of images” deemed not to pose a risk to safety. Under a new system, Planet Labs will release imagery on a case-by-case basis for urgent, mission-critical requirements or in the public interest.
“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders,” the firm says.
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