Over Fences and Into Yards: Privacy Threats and Concerns of Commercial Satellites

Abstract

Commercial satellite imaging is used for diverse applications in a wide range of sectors, from agriculture to the military. As satellite images continue to become more widely available and detailed in resolution, the potential for individual and population-level monitoring increases and raises new privacy concerns compared to previous Earth observation technologies. We anticipate that these technologies will only continue to improve in the upcoming decade. To better understand privacy threats and concerns of commercial satellite imagery, we conducted a survey of 99 participants from the United States. We found that most respondents were not aware that commercial satellites existed, and once informed about the capabilities of commercial satellites, most are not comfortable with how good the current state-of-the-art satellite imaging capabilities are. Few respondents want satellite imagery cost-free and widely available, which conflicts with current trends in geospatial data. In addition to aiding our understanding of the public's current perception and relationship with remote sensing technologies, we use these results to propose possible new satellite image legislation, regulation, and technological mitigations, both nationally and internationally.