Satellite imaging company Planet Labs has announced it will indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the conflict region in the Middle East to comply with a request from the United States regime under President Donald Trump's administration. The US-based firm disclosed this decision in an email to customers on Saturday, with news agencies reporting that the government had asked satellite imagery providers to impose an "indefinite withhold of imagery," a move that critics argue could obscure military activities and limit transparency.
The restriction expands upon a 14-day delay on imagery of the Middle East that Planet Labs implemented last month, which itself extended an initial 96-hour delay. The company claimed this action was meant to prevent adversaries from using the imagery to attack the US and its allies, though it raises concerns about information control and the potential for hiding geopolitical maneuvers in a volatile region.
Planet Labs stated it will withhold imagery dating back to March 9 and expects the policy to remain in effect until the end of the war, which began on February 28 when the US and Israel launched aerial attacks against Iran. The conflict has since escalated across the region, with Iran firing missile and drone barrages at Israel and US assets, as well as civilian infrastructure across the Gulf, highlighting the high stakes and risks of further destabilization.
Founded in 2010 by former NASA scientists, Planet Labs said in its email to customers that it would switch to a "managed distribution of images" deemed not to pose a risk to safety. Under this new system, the company will release imagery on a case-by-case basis for urgent, mission-critical requirements or in the public interest, significantly curtailing free access and potentially hindering journalistic and academic efforts to monitor hard-to-reach areas.
"These are extraordinary circumstances, and we are doing all we can to balance the needs of all our stakeholders," the California-based company was quoted as saying. Military uses of satellite technology include target identification, weapons guidance, missile tracking, and communications. Some space specialists suggest Iran could be accessing commercial imagery, including pictures obtained via US adversaries, which adds layers of complexity and threat to regional security dynamics.
Source: www.aljazeera.com