Not sure about SEC leaking anything, but satellite data is a tool for investors to use satellite imagery, and image processing to see things like how many cars are in several big branches, make assumptions and correlations to spending, and then act on the information before Walmart releases a quarterly statement, sort of.
Number of container ships docked or leaving port around China can forecast trends in China's exports, again before any official numbers are made available. I don't see this as insider trading. You pay for the satellite time, you gamble on your data analysis, and you either win or lose. If it were certain, others do the same, and the edge is lost quickly by market adjustments.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/38722872