Saudi Aramco Chief Warns of Weaponized Ship Tracking Data

Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser warned on Monday that satellite imagery and ship tracking data are increasingly being weaponized to attack oil infrastructure and tankers. Speaking at the Energy Intelligence Forum, Nasser emphasized that tools designed for transparency, such as satellite imaging and shipping logs, are now being used for aggression. He acknowledged the dual nature of technology, highlighting its benefits alongside the serious risks it poses.

The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) reports that since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran on February 28, there have been around 91 incidents involving ships in the Persian Gulf, resulting in 24 seafarers killed. In response to the rising threat of missile and drone attacks, more vessels in the region are switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders to avoid detection. This practice, known as "going dark," was previously more common among vessels in the so-called shadow fleet transporting sanctioned crude from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.