Planet Labs to Withhold Iran War Images Following U.S. Government Request
Planet Labs, a satellite imaging firm based in California, has announced it will indefinitely withhold imagery of Iran and the surrounding conflict region in the Middle East. This decision comes in response to a request from the U.S. government, which has asked all satellite imagery providers to refrain from releasing images of the conflict area. Previously, Planet Labs had imposed a 14-day delay on such imagery to prevent adversaries from using it against the U.S. and its allies. The conflict began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes from Tehran on Israel and U.S. bases in Gulf states. The withheld imagery dates back to March 9, and the policy will remain until the conflict concludes. Planet Labs operates a large fleet of Earth-imaging satellites and provides images to governments, companies, and media. The firm plans to manage the distribution of images, releasing them on a case-by-case basis for urgent or public interest needs. 
