Firm says transfer amid US-Israel struggle on Iran comes after a request from the US authorities.
Printed On 5 Apr 2026
Satellite tv for pc imaging firm Planet Labs has stated it should indefinitely withhold visuals of Iran and the area of battle within the Center East to adjust to a request from United States President Donald Trump’s administration.
The US firm introduced the choice in an e-mail to prospects on Saturday, with information companies quoting it as saying the federal government had requested satellite tv for pc imagery suppliers to impose an “indefinite withhold of images”.
The restriction expands upon a 14-day delay on imagery of the Center East that Planet Labs carried out final month, which extended an initial 96-hour delay, a transfer the agency stated was meant to forestall adversaries from utilizing the imagery to assault the US and its allies.
Planet Labs stated it should withhold imagery courting again to March 9 and that it expects the coverage to stay in impact till the top of the struggle, which started on February 28 when the US and Israel launched aerial assaults towards Iran. The battle has since unfold throughout the area, with Iran firing missile and drone barrages at Israel and US belongings, in addition to civilian infrastructure throughout the Gulf.
Planet Labs, which was based in 2010 by former NASA scientists, stated in its e-mail to prospects that it might swap to a “managed distribution of photographs” deemed not to pose a danger to security.
Below a brand new system, Planet Labs will launch imagery on a case-by-case foundation for pressing, mission-critical necessities or within the public curiosity.
“These are extraordinary circumstances, and we’re doing all we are able to to steadiness the wants of all our stakeholders,” the California-based firm was quoted as saying.
Army makes use of of satellite tv for pc expertise embrace goal identification, weapons steerage, missile monitoring and communications. Some area specialists say Iran may very well be accessing business imagery, together with footage obtained by way of US adversaries. Satellite tv for pc photographs additionally assist journalists and teachers finding out hard-to-reach locations.
