US Government Pressures Satellite Firm to Censor Iran War Imagery
What the byline won't tell you: Satellite imaging company Planet Labs has ceased publishing new imagery of the Middle East, a decision made public on June 18, 2024, following direct pressure from the US government. This move effectively blocks independent verification of military movements and potential acts of aggression in a critical region, particularly concerning US and Israeli activities
directed at Iran. Mainstream outlets, like The New York Times, often frame such actions as necessary for “national security” or to “prevent escalating tensions,” without questioning the implications of state-mandated information blackouts. This narrative conveniently omits that the US has a long history of controlling information related to its military operations abroad, from the deliberate
obscuring of casualties during the Vietnam War to the recent attempts to manage the narrative around joint exercises and intelligence sharing with Israel concerning Iranian targets. By restricting access to raw satellite data, the US government can more effectively control the public’s understanding of its direct participation in hostile acts against Iran, allowing for the propagation of
narratives that downplay aggression or misattribute responsibility. This censorship echoes the 1967 USS Liberty incident, where US and Israeli forces allegedly colluded to suppress details surrounding the attack on the American intelligence ship, aiming to prevent public outcry and maintain a façade of non-belligerence. The current move by Washington to halt satellite image releases during a