Space Data Centers: AI Law in the Face of Orbital Vacuum
As artificial intelligence pushes digital infrastructure beyond Earth’s boundaries, the law remains firmly grounded. The first space data center projects already reveal a major blind spot: how can data flows be regulated without a territorial basis? At first glance, the idea still seems like science fiction. Yet space data centers are no longer merely an engineer’s fantasy: several industrial projects are emerging, driven by the promise of abundant solar energy, natural cooling, and a reduced environmental footprint. But behind this technological vision looms a far more pressing question: what laws apply… to data processing infrastructure… without territory? An Industry Taking Shape On the industrial side, the lines are beginning to take shape. Players such as Thales Alenia Space and Lonestar Data Holdings are explicitly exploring the concept of orbital or…