The Trump administration has reportedly called for a halt to satellite images from Iran as the US-Iran war rages on. According to a Bloomberg report, the US government has asked satellite imagery providers to withhold images of designated areas of interest.
Planet Labs PBC has begun restricting access to data from the region, citing 'extraordinary circumstances' and a need to balance stakeholder needs. The company will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments to minimize the impact on data availability.
The Pentagon and US government have yet to comment on the matter. Other key companies providing satellite imagery, including Maxar Technologies, Vantor, Airbus Defence and Space, and BlackSky, are also moving to a 'managed access' model.
Under this model, new images will be delayed and released on a case-by-case basis, even for urgent requirements. This restriction is not new, as Planet Labs and Vantor had previously announced similar measures in March due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
A major problem in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran is the spread of fake satellite imagery and AI-modified images. One such instance was when an Iranian newspaper posted a fake image of damage to an American radar system in Qatar, which was later revealed to be an altered image of a site in Bahrain.
