Satellite firm pauses imagery after revealing Iran’s attacks on US bases

Planet Labs, a prominent player in the commercial satellite imaging sector, announced on Friday that it will temporarily suspend the release of imagery from certain regions of the Middle East as hostilities intensify. With a fleet of hundreds of Earth-observing satellites, Planet aims to capture images of every landmass daily, catering to a diverse clientele that includes think tanks, NGOs, academic institutions, and various industries such as agriculture and energy. The company, which also provides satellite imagery to the US military and government intelligence agencies, stated, "In response to the conflict in the Middle East, Planet is implementing temporary restrictions on data access within specific areas of the affected region." Effective immediately, all new imagery collected over the Gulf States, Iraq, Kuwait, and surrounding conflict zones will face a mandatory 96-hour delay before it becomes accessible in their archive. However, imagery over Iran will still be available promptly upon acquisition. Planet clarified that these restrictions apply to all users except for authorized government personnel who require immediate access for critical missions. Recent imagery from Planet has revealed the aftermath of missile and drone strikes conducted by Iran on US and allied bases, including damage to the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and a billion-dollar early warning radar system in Qatar. The company has expressed concerns about adversarial actors potentially using its data for Battle Damage Assessment (BDA), emphasizing its intention to avoid aiding Iran’s military in understanding the effectiveness of its attacks.