Planet Labs Freezes Satellite Imagery in the Middle East at U.S. Request

Planet Labs, a company specializing in satellite imaging, announced the suspension of imagery related to Iran and the Middle East until further notice, following a request from the U.S. government.

The California-based company informed its clients of the decision through an official email, explaining that Washington urged commercial satellite providers to halt publishing images of conflict zones to prevent their potential use in attacks against the United States and its allies.

This move expands a previous measure implemented last month, which delayed image releases by 14 days, now extending the freeze to include all imagery captured since March 9, remaining in effect until the conflict ends.

The company also introduced a selective image distribution system, allowing releases in urgent or public interest cases, aiming to balance security concerns with stakeholder needs.

Meanwhile, Vantor stated it had not received direct instructions from the U.S., but independently applied stricter access controls in parts of the Middle East based on its conflict-time policies.

Experts highlight the strategic importance of satellite imagery, as it is widely used for military targeting, missile tracking, and communication management, in addition to research and journalism.