- San Francisco-based satellite company Planet temporarily restricted access to its images during the Iran war at the request of the Trump administration.
- Planet told SF Gate it limited access due to government concerns about the "potential misuse" of its ultra-high-definition images, balancing national security with transparency.
- The company later reinstated a delay on publishing images over Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan as the conflict intensified.
- The Trump administration reportedly asked all satellite image providers to indefinitely withhold imagery of the Middle East and Iran.
- Skeptics question the effectiveness of these data restrictions, noting that technologically advanced nations like China and Russia are believed to be assisting Iran's war efforts.
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