John C. Baker

The Implications of Emerging Satellite Information Technologies for Global Transparency and International Security

The worldwide information revolution has important implications for how states deal with conflict, both within and across national borders. Widespread access to increasingly powerful personal computers, lower cost telecommunications, global media coverage, Internet data flows, commercial observation satellites, and global positioning satellites are contributing to an increased international transparency, both enhancing and complicating states’ ability to manage conflict. On the one hand, amplified transparency provides policy makers with new instruments for supporting conflict prevention, management, and resolution. Yet, the global transparency and connectivity provided by modern information technologies also promises to diminish the preeminent role of states in international politics. National governments no longer possess a monopoly on relevant and credible information for dealing with various international security problems. By providing a feasible alternative to hierarchical power arrangements, these same technologies increase the importance of nonstate actors such as the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the news media on the international scene.

Commercial observation satellites: broadening the sources of geospatial data

Commercial observation satellites promise to broaden substantially the sources of imagery data available to potential users of geospatial data and related information products. We examine the new trend toward private firms acquiring and operating high-resolution imagery satellites. These commercial observation satellites build on the substantial experience in Earth observation operations provided by government-owned imaging satellites for civilian and military purposes. However, commercial satellites will require governments and companies to reconcile public and private interests in allowing broad public access to high-resolution satellite imagery data without creating national security risks or placing the private firms at a disadvantage compared with other providers of geospatial data.