(iPoster) Eye in the Sky, Hand in the Pie: Satellite Imagery's Double-Edged Sword

• In Event: Poster Session: South Asian Politics & Economics, Information Warfare, and Conflict Management
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Economics, Information Warfare, and Conflict Management

Abstract

In recent years, satellite imagery has garnered global attention for its coverage of critical events, ranging from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine to human trafficking and migration in the Mediterranean, as well as climate change across the globe. Satellite firms often frame their technologies as a force for good, emphasizing their ability to provide visual coverage of hard-to-reach areas, such as conflict zones or during natural disasters. However, our analysis reveals that these dual-use technologies are far from value-neutral. While satellite imagery has indeed been leveraged to advance human rights, humanitarian interventions, disaster relief, and crisis management, it also underpins a global surveillance infrastructure, highlighting a stark divide between the public messaging of satellite companies and the realities of their operations. To trace which portion of these contracts prioritized military and defense applications over human rights and environmental monitoring, the paper offers an analysis of government tenders awarded to major satellite companies between 2015 and 2024, alongside a detailed review of corporate filings. Our findings underscore the disproportionate influence of capitalist incentives in shaping the trajectory of satellite technology deployment, often at odds with stated ethical commitments. We conclude by discussing the governance challenges posed by the rapid expansion of these technologies and the ethical dilemmas that arise from their dual-use nature.

Authors

• Marc Calabretta, University of Toronto

• Gabrielle Lim, University of Toronto

• Aidan William Kerr, University of Toronto

• Marlene Terstiege, University of Toronto