US requests restrictions on access to Iran satellite imagery: Report

ISTANBUL

The US government has requested a satellite imagery provider to withhold distribution of photos from the Iran conflict zone, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Planet Labs said it is moving to a managed access model for its satellite images of the region, sharing the images on a case-by-case basis and “for urgent, mission critical requirements or in the public interest.”

A company spokesperson said Saturday that the US government has asked satellite image providers to delay distributing images of the conflict zone indefinitely.

She added that Planet’s revised access policy will remain in effect until the war ends.

The company had already reduced the speed at which it shared imagery from the area, citing worries that the data might be exploited by US adversaries.

Recently, companies have launched large numbers of imaging satellites, aiming to sell the collected data to clients such as farmers and insurance firms, according to the Journal.

US national security agencies are reportedly among the biggest customers for this type of data, giving the government considerable leverage over how satellite companies conduct their operations.

Vantor, a satellite firm that collaborates with US national security agencies, has also introduced stricter controls on image access during conflicts, partly due to the high resolution of its satellite photos, according to a company spokesperson.

The news comes as the US-Israeli war on Iran has entered its sixth week.