Rights of Individuals in an Earth Observation and Satellite Navigation Environment

Book excerpt: New Space technologies, Earth observation and satellite navigation in particular, have proven to be invaluable drivers of sustainable development, thus contributing to the protection of several human rights (the “Good”). At the same time, however, New Space technologies raise concerns for the right to privacy (the “Bad”), and face a number of challenges posed by hostile cyber operations (the “Ugly”). Dr. Arianna Vettorel analyzes the relevant international, European and domestic legal frameworks and highlights the need for several innovative approaches and reforms, in a transnational and bottom-up perspective, in order to maximize the Good, and minimize the Bad and the Ugly, of New Space technologies.