How Saudi space piracy could scotch a $375 million football deal

Yes, there are space pirates. They live in Saudi Arabia.

During the “golden age” of piracy in the 17th and 18th centuries, most pirates were emanations of state power—privateers, in other words, commissioned by governments to wreak lucrative havoc on enemy shipping and colonies.

The same appears to be true today, though modern pirates prey on data streaming through the space lanes, not galleons sailing with the trade winds.

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