When Satellite Data Becomes a Weapon

Iran's Tehran Times published AI-manipulated satellite imagery falsely showing destroyed American radar, which was quickly debunked by open source intelligence researchers. The incident highlights how satellite infrastructure in the Gulf—operated by state-backed entities and commercial providers like Planet Labs and Maxar—is becoming contested terrain during rising US-Israel-Iran tensions, with data being delayed, spoofed, or withheld. Commercial satellite companies are extending imagery delays in the Middle East, raising concerns about public access to conflict verification tools.