Operationalizing Data Protection in Satellite Earth Observation Workflows: A Three-Segment Privacy Architecture under the Nigeria Data Protection Framework

High-resolution Earth Observation (EO) platforms routinely capture spatial Data capable of identifying individual structures and human activities, creating tension between open-Data mandates and privacy rights. While international agencies align with frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), mechanisms for embedding privacy into national satellite workflows remain underdeveloped. This paper examines the misalignment between Nigeria’s Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 and EO operations, particularly in rapid disaster response. Using statutory analysis and synthesis of geospatial privacy and GeoAI literature, we evaluate risks across upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of Earth Observation. To overcome manual compliance latency, we propose the Data Protection for Earth Observation Data (DP-EO Data) Architecture, a Privacy-by-Design framework that integrates geographic zoning at sensor-tasking, end-to-end encrypted telemetry, and automated GeoAI spatial anonymization with tiered role-based access control. This architecture operationalizes the NDPA 2023 across the EO value chain, transforming legal obligations into technical safeguards for responsible satellite Data use in national contexts. It enables Nigeria to reconcile Data sovereignty with multilateral commitments under the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS), ensuring responsible use of satellite Data without compromising spatial personal information. The DP-EO Data Architecture offers a transferable model for African space programs seeking to innovate responsibly within domestic legal frameworks.