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Planet Labs will indefinitely withhold satellite imagery of Iran and Middle East conflict zones following a US government request. The firm has shifted to a managed access model, citing security concerns. The move expands earlier delays on imagery aimed at preventing adversaries from using real-time visuals during the ongoing conflict.

Planet Labs has announced that it will indefinitely withhold imagery of Iran and the conflict region in the Middle East to comply with a request from the US government. The company announced the decision in an email to customers, saying the US government had asked all satellite imagery providers to indefinitely withhold imagery of the conflict region.

The email by Planet Labs reads, "Due to the conflict in the Middle East, the US government has requested all satellite imagery providers voluntarily implement an indefinite withhold of imagery in the designated Area of Interest (AOI). Effective retroactively from March , Planet is moving to a managed access model... We expect this policy to last through the end of the conflict."

What is Planet Labs?

Planet Labs is a California-based satellite imaging firm that operates a large fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and sells frequently updated images to governments, companies, and media. One of the most significant commercial satellite operators on the planet, it has for years been the go-to source for near-real-time imagery of conflict zones, disaster sites, nuclear facilities, and military installations, including extensively documented imagery of Iran's infrastructure in the months leading up to the current war. Its data is used by journalists, intelligence analysts, academics, financial traders, and humanitarian organisations worldwide.