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Elon Musk will run into trouble setting up a Martian government, lawyers say:
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is steadfast in realizing his dreams of establishing a permanent colony on Mars, but any new government there will face immense legal challenges.
We got an early glimpse of what such a future society could look like, buried deep inside the user agreement for SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service.
“For services provided on Mars, or in transit to Mars via Starship or other colonization spacecraft, the parties recognize Mars as a free planet and that no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty over Martian activities,” the terms of service read. “Accordingly, disputes will be settled through self-governing principles, established in good faith, at the time of Martian settlement.”
[...] Lawyers, however, have their doubts about SpaceX’s abilities to set up a Martian state. In fact, several told The Independent in a new story, what SpaceX has laid out in its Starlink user agreement isn’t radically different from space treaties that have been signed over the years.
[...] For instance, the 2020 Artemis accords stipulate that “outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means.”
[...] “[Musk] could be trying to lay some groundwork for offering up an independent constitution… just like he did for electric cars and reusable launch vehicles,” [Randy Segal, of the law firm Hogan Lovells] told The Independent. “Does it have any precedent or enforceability? The answer I’d say is clearly no; but if you say something enough, people might come around.”
(Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Wednesday December 30 2020, @08:01PM (1 child)
Mars can have an independent government that can do whatever it wants if it has a self-sustaining colony with no need for resupply from Earth. Maybe even long before that as long as one country is still willing to launch cargo there. Space treaties or Artemis accords are meaningless, only power/force matters. The colony will be really weak and could be easily conquered, but nobody will care to do so.
In reality, the leadership positions on Mars will be stuffed with people with allegiance to U.S., China, etc. Most colonists won't have "Mars national pride" for a long time. The colony will probably be small and full of geologists temporarily staying there.
The stuff in the user agreement is just meant to be a funny easter egg.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by barbara hudson on Wednesday December 30 2020, @08:24PM
SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.