Privacy Risks: The 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, & 14 Eyes Alliances
If you care about privacy, you need to understand where your VPN company is headquartered. The "Eyes" alliances are international intelligence-sharing agreements between countries. If a VPN is based in one of these countries, "no-logs" promises might be legally overridden by secret court orders.
The 5 Eyes (The Core)
The original alliance. These countries share almost everything.
- 🇺🇸 United States
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Risk: Extremely High. Avoid VPNs headquartered here if you need maximum anonymity.
The 9 Eyes (The Extension)
Includes the 5 Eyes plus:
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇴 Norway
Risk: High. These countries cooperate closely with the NSA and GCHQ.
The 14 Eyes (SIGINT Seniors)
Includes the 9 Eyes plus:
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇪🇸 Spain
Risk: Moderate/High. Better than 5 Eyes, but still not ideal for privacy purists.
Safe Havens
Countries outside these alliances with strong privacy laws are the best places for VPN HQs:
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇵🇦 Panama (Home of NordVPN)
- 🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands (Home of ExpressVPN)
- 🇷🇴 Romania (Home of CyberGhost)
Conclusion
Jurisdiction matters. Always check where a VPN is legally based before subscribing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I avoid VPNs in 5 Eyes countries?
Ideally, yes. VPNs based in these countries (like the US or UK) can be legally compelled to log user data and share it with other member states.
Is Switzerland in the 14 Eyes?
No. Switzerland is not a formal member of these alliances and has strong privacy laws, making it a safe haven for VPN services (like ProtonVPN).