This project, which kicked off in September 2025 and runs for 18 months, will investigate how EO data can be interfered with, how to counter this interference, and how to guarantee the truthfulness and accuracy of the information provided.
Telespazio UK will be working closely with Leonardo UK and FACTiven as security experts to:
- Investigate where the EO chain could be open to interference
- Characterise the types of potential interference and their consequences
- Specify methods to detect potential interference,
- Develop ways to counter interference and integrate these into monitoring capabilities so that an EO chain can be certified that it has not being subjected to interference.
This project will be carried out by focusing on identified EO-based products/services in close collaboration with partners Telespazio Germany, e-GEOS, RSS-Hydro and Terra Spatium whose expert knowledge of these processing chains and products will be invaluable.
Although traditionally regarded as a highly reliable source, satellite imagery is increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated alterations and cyber threats. The emergence of falsified satellite images has become a pressing concern, as such manipulations distorting reality and spreading rapidly across social media and online platforms, amplifying misinformation. This growing threat undermines the credibility of satellite data, which is vital for national security, disaster response and economic planning. Governments, businesses and organisations depend on accurate satellite imagery and data for strategic decision-making; the infiltration of deceptive content could lead to serious miscalculations, misallocated resources and flawed policy decisions.
To address this challenge, the EO Veracity PoC Verification project aims to build trust in EO information chains by evaluating the provenance and authenticity of EO data and products. This initiative will ultimately result in the development of a comprehensive roadmap for EO companies interested in enhancing the reliability and integrity of their data offerings and products.
Geoff Busswell, VP of Business Growth at Telespazio UK, said: “As satellite data becomes ever more central to decision-making in defence, security and civil applications, confidence in its authenticity is paramount. Through this ESA-led project, Telespazio UK is proud to lead a partnership that strengthens the resilience and trustworthiness of Earth Observation data – ensuring it can be relied upon where it matters most.”
ESA Applications Engineer, Ola Grabak, said: “Earth Observation data plays a vital role in supporting decisions that impact people, the environment and security. Building confidence in the authenticity of this information is crucial in today’s digital landscape. This project represents an important step in ensuring that satellite data remains a trusted and reliable source for society.”
Image above: Left is the original image over fields in Luxembourg, while the right-hand image is a manipulation deleting the village in the central part of the image.