Planet Labs maps war crimes to help end wars
- Planet Labs has used satellite technology to document missile strikes in Ukraine.
- The company collaborates with human rights organizations to expose war crimes.
- Their efforts contribute to a larger ambition of preventing armed conflict globally.
In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Planet Labs rapidly deployed its technology to capture high-resolution images of the conflict, focusing on the impacts of missile strikes on civilian targets. The company's founders, Will Marshall and Robbie Schingler, expressed their commitment to utilizing satellite imagery for humanitarian efforts, particularly in reporting war crimes. Through collaborations with organizations like Human Rights Watch, Planet Labs seeks to provide evidence of violations of international law against Russia, which may aid in potential war crimes trials against leaders like Vladimir Putin. Their efforts are highlighted in HBO's documentary, which reflects on the broader NewSpace revolution that has shifted space power dynamics away from government agencies to commercial entities.