Tuana Yazici
Tuana Yazici is the Founder, Chair and CEO of Tuana Group, its subsidiaries AeroAI Voyages and AeroAI DesignLab, and the nonprofit AeroAI Global Solutions, an observer organisation to the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS). Across these entities, she works at the intersection of space technologies, artificial intelligence and governance, developing applied solutions that use advanced sensing and AI systems to improve global living conditions.
Yazici holds a Juris Doctor degree, a Master’s in International Administration, and a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Alongside her leadership roles in business and law, she is training as a student helicopter pilot, reflecting a long-standing interest in aviation and exploration. She is a member of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL) and Chairs the IISL Working Group on the Legal Aspects of AI in Space. A published author in space law and a frequent speaker at international forums, her work focuses on building balanced and responsible frameworks for regulating space technologies and AI.
One of her key initiatives is AeroAI Guardian, a flagship project of AeroAI Global Solutions. The initiative applies optical satellite imagery, synthetic aperture radar, AI systems and radiofrequency data to identify and monitor international human and wildlife trafficking hotspots. An overview of the project is available through the US Chamber of Commerce here.
As Chair of the IISL Working Group, Yazici co-authored the Working Group’s flagship report, Balancing Innovation and Responsibility: International Recommendations for AI Regulation in Space. The report examines international law, soft law, and regulatory frameworks including GDPR, export controls, procurement and telecommunications. It analyses comparative case studies on genetics and lethal autonomous weapons, environmental considerations, space traffic management and parallels in air and maritime law, and presents actionable recommendations for future regulation of AI in space. Yazici delivered a technical presentation of the report to the UN Legal Subcommittee, and the report was released as an official Conference Room Paper during the session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.
Her March 2025 article, “Toward a global standard for ethical AI regulation: addressing gaps in AI-driven biometric and high-resolution satellite imaging in the EU AI Act”, published in the journal Law, Innovation and Technology, evaluates the limitations of the EU AI Act with respect to satellite-based AI, biometric tracking and off-board analysis. The article proposes targeted amendments to support international standardisation, including a risk-triggered licensing model for non-military satellites, safeguards such as default facial blurring and time-limited licences, and the streamlining of oversight processes to avoid overburdening the private sector.
Her most recent publication, “Standardizing Space Technologies as Admissible Evidence: Legal and Ethical Frameworks for U.S. Courts and the International Criminal Court”, published in University of Miami International and Comparative Law (April 2025), examines how satellite imagery, radar, radiofrequency data and AI analytics can be used as admissible evidence in US and international courts. The article addresses privacy, authentication challenges and technical vulnerabilities, and proposes stepwise recommendations to help standardise evidentiary use across legal systems.
Yazici’s work brings together legal analysis, emerging technology and applied governance, contributing to the development of frameworks capable of supporting trusted and verifiable use of space-derived data across national and international systems.
Listen to Tuana and Steven Adler and Dominic explore how satellite imagery, synthetic aperture radar, radiofrequency sensing and AI analysis are reshaping the detection of shadow fleets and illicit maritime activity. Learn how gaps in monitoring, data governance and evidentiary standards continue to limit global enforcement, and read more about how integrated space and ocean intelligence, legal verification frameworks and coordinated international action will define the future of credible, accountable maritime security.