The [i]speed[/i] of light in a [i]vacuum[/i] is a universal constant. When people talk about the speed of light, they are almost always referring to the speed of light in a vacuum. Light can have different speeds through different objects but in a vacuum (space), it will always be the same and nothing can surpass it...not yet anyways. So, no, it doesn't violate special relativity because Einstein was referring to the speed of light in a vacuum.