in all seriousness perhaps iranian hosts would be a viable route

In all seriousness, is there any legal precedent for seizing/shooting down satellites?

Space law tends to be extrapolated from maritime law as many of the legal condundrums are similar. So if you had a pirate satellite then it could probably be seized under a letter of marque. It's a fun question, I'll look into it.

You'd probably fall afoul of sanctions law if you tried that.

I am not sure you want to stare down the Iranian justice system.

If you don't live in Iran, staring down the Iranian justice system [given the lack of love other nations have for them] is pretty easy.

Tbh tho, I wouldn't be surprised if you setup an Iranian site that you weren't accused of "funding terrorist operations" and the trial gets replaced with a US drone strike.

To my knowledge, there have not been any drone missile strikes in Iran. That would likely constitute an act of war. Iran did shoot down a spy drone back in 2011.

Point taken, though.

> If you don't live in Iran.

As in, you live somewhere else out of reach of the Iranian and US justice systems. But you host the site in Iran.

@opendais: I'm still confused where the drone strike is happening.

Let us say you decide to hide out in Cambodia while operating servers in Iran.

The point is where isn't important. Given a large enough market, the US would do whatever was needed to catch you. :P

This is perhaps pedantic, but the US is also not going to order a drone strike in Cambodia.

The US would never extradite to Iran, so unless you are so desperate to open a "dark net market" that you move to Iran, you will stare down the US justice system, not the Iranian tribunals.