Humanitarian groups and journalists have raised concerns after Planet Labs restricted access to satellite images of Iran and large parts of the Middle East, reportedly following a request from the US government.
The California-based company had initially imposed a 14-day delay on new imagery from the region in March but has since shifted to an indefinite restriction. This move has affected the ability of journalists, aid organisations and analysts to assess the impact of the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran, including damage to both military and civilian infrastructure.
It remains unclear what led the US to seek such restrictions, and the Department of Defense has not commented on the matter, BBC reported.
Planet had earlier said the temporary delay was intended to prevent its imagery from being used by adversarial actors to target allied and NATO personnel or civilians.
In a later statement, the company indicated that it would adopt a “managed distribution” approach, under which selected images would be shared on a case-by-case basis until security risks subside. It did not specify the full scope of the restrictions, though reports suggest they cover much of the Middle East, including Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and Gaza.
An expert cited by BBC Verify suggested that companies with defence contracts may sometimes comply with such requests voluntarily, influenced in part by commercial considerations.
Satellite imagery has become an essential reporting tool in conflict zones and restricted areas where journalists cannot safely operate, according to investigative journalist Benjamin Strick.
Another satellite imaging firm, Maxar Technologies (now known as Vantor), which also holds US military contracts, stated that it had not received any request from the Pentagon to limit its coverage of Iran.
Geospatial analyst Bill Greer noted that companies with significant defence contracts may be subject to a degree of government influence. He also pointed out that such restrictions could impact humanitarian efforts.
The charity Oxfam indicated that it relies on satellite imagery for planning logistics in conflict and disaster zones. Its humanitarian lead, Magnus Corfixen, said such data had been particularly important in managing water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in Gaza, where coverage has also been restricted.
Media organisations such as the BBC and The New York Times have increasingly turned to non-US providers for imagery. However, journalist Christoph Koettl noted that alternatives like the European Space Agency often do not offer the same level of resolution or coverage.
Experts suggested that while such restrictions may become more common, they could ultimately be less effective as the satellite imagery sector continues to expand with new global providers