Francesca GCrystal is glad to share that her article Francesca Giannoni-Crystal, Data Processing in Space and the Application of the GDPR, 38 S.C. Law. 38 (Spring 2026). https://mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=863173&p=4&view=issueViewer has just been published by the SC lawyer Journal.
The growing idea of data centers in space, whether in orbit or on the Moon, sparks discussion about technical advantages and limitations. From saving land on Earth and resilience against terrestrial disruptions to energy efficiency and cooling, the concept is gaining traction despite some operational and economic challenges.
Projects like Lonestar Data Holdings’s lunar data storage initiative and proposals such as Project SunCatcher are examples of this trend.
The debate should not be limited to engineering and economics. It should also address legal exposure. My article examines whether the EU hashtagGDPR applies to data processing conducted in space. The analysis shows that GDPR can extend beyond Earth through its established extraterritorial bases: EU establishment, targeting of EU users, monitoring of behavior, and the application of Member State law via public international law, including registration of space objects.
The key point is that off-Earth data processing does not place it outside regulatory reach.
While enforcement remains uncertain where a space operators lack a meaningful EU presence, as is also the case for non-EU companies, the situation is different where there is ground infrastructure in Europe and could evolve quickly also for space operators lacking that connection as off-Earth processing gains momentum. Therefore, for space operators and legal counsel, the implication is clear: it would be prudent to build GDPR considerations into the design of space-based data systems from the outset. hashtagprivacy hashtagspacelaw Read the article here https://lnkd.in/d5S7x9mG
