Shah Murad
Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST), Karachi
Title: Legal validity of satellite remote sensing data: Emerging challenges and regulatory Issues
Biography
Biography: Shah Murad
Abstract
Technological advancements in the field of space technology have provided tremendous benefits to the modern society. The application of Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) has also played a vital role in the socio-economic development of Pakistan - ranging from food security to disaster management. The national space agency, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), has been using Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) since 2000. Pakistan is party to all five Treaties of the United Nations on Space Law but it has not incorporated any Treaty into municipal law. Hence, at present there is no law and policy in Pakistan to regulate the collection, distribution, sharing, archiving, and access of Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) data. The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) has developed an international set of norms, Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Outer Space, which provide a guideline for policy making on application and uses of Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS). In view of the emerging challenges and regulatory issues involved in application of Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS), it is imperative to develop a regulatory framework at national level to cope with complex challenges faced by the public and private sector in legal environment. This paper addresses legal aspects of Satellite Remote Sensing (SRS) in the context of data privacy, responsibility, liability, rights, intellectual property, and also indentifies shortcomings in the existing Pakistan’s legal system and proposes possible solutions.