The California-based firm informed its customers of this decision through an email, indicating that the US government had asked all satellite imagery providers to withhold images from the conflict region indefinitely.
This new restriction builds upon a previous 14-day delay on imagery of the Middle East that Planet Labs enacted last month, aimed at preventing adversaries from utilizing this information to launch attacks on the US and its allies.
Planet Labs stated it would withhold imagery dating back to March 9 and anticipates that this policy will remain in place until the conflict concludes.
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The conflict commenced when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, leading Tehran to retaliate by striking Israeli and US military bases in the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Military applications of satellite technology encompass target identification, weapon guidance, missile tracking, and communications. Some space experts believe that Iran may access commercial imagery, including images sourced from US adversaries. Satellite imagery also serves as a vital resource for journalists and researchers studying difficult-to-reach areas.
Planet Labs, which operates an extensive fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and provides frequently updated images to governments, companies, and media outlets, did not respond to requests for further comment.
The Pentagon stated that it does not comment on intelligence-related issues.
In its email to customers, Planet Labs indicated that it would transition to a “managed distribution of images” that are considered safe to release. Under this new system, imagery will be provided on a case-by-case basis for urgent, mission-critical needs or in the public interest.
“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are striving to balance the needs of all our stakeholders,” the company stated.
Another commercial provider, Vantor, previously known as Maxar Technologies, informed Reuters that it had not been contacted by the US government. The company has had the right to “implement enhanced access controls during times of geopolitical conflict” for years and currently applies these controls in certain parts of the Middle East, according to a spokesperson’s statement.
These controls may limit who can request new images or purchase existing pictures of regions where the US military and its allies are “actively operating” and areas “actively targeted by adversaries,” the spokesperson noted.
A different commercial provider, BlackSky Technology, did not respond promptly to a request for comment from Reuters.
