The latest
U.S. restrictions on commercial satellite imagery have made it harder for journalists to verify military strikes, battlefield damage and possible violations during the Iran war, according to New York Times visual investigations reporter Christoph Koettl.
Details
• The blackout: Koettl said 5 U.S. satellite providers cut off access to high-resolution imagery of Iran and surrounding countries shortly after the war began.
• The rationale: The restrictions were imposed over concerns that Iran could use the images to identify and target U.S. forces.
• The impact: The limits affected newsrooms and research groups that routinely publish satellite imagery.
• The precedent: Similar controls were used during the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, when Washington bought exclusive access to available commercial imagery.
• The workaround: The Times turned to satellite providers in Europe and Asia, along with ship tracking, flight data and public military posts.
Background
Satellite imagery has been central to documenting hard-to-reach conflict zones, including damage in Tehran, attacks on U.S. regional bases and strikes on civilian infrastructure in Iran.
What to watch
The key question is whether satellite access becomes more global and decentralized, especially as foreign providers, nonprofits and media organizations develop alternatives to U.S.-controlled imagery.
