5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, 14 Eyes Countries: What VPN Users Aren’t Told
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Think your VPN keeps you anonymous? That depends on where it’s based and who it answers to. Behind the scenes, powerful surveillance alliances like the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes quietly shape how private your internet activity really is.
The 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes are international surveillance alliances where member countries share intelligence, including online data. VPNs based in these countries may be legally required to log or hand over user information, affecting online privacy.
Governments in these alliances have the legal power to demand user information, even from companies that promise “no logs.” For privacy-conscious users, understanding where your VPN is headquartered isn't just a tech detail, it's the difference between staying private and being silently watched.
What You Will Learn in This Article
What Are the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes and 14 Eyes and Why Should VPN Users Care?
It sounds like a secret club and honestly, that’s not far off. The 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes are international surveillance alliances made up of various Western governments. Their original goal? Share intelligence to protect national security.
But here's the twist, those same agreements can also be used to monitor internet traffic, private communications, and yes, even VPN users.
The Secret WWII Pact That Started It All
The root of all this goes back to the UKUSA Agreement, a post-WWII deal between the United States and the United Kingdom to exchange signals intelligence.
Over the decades, the alliance quietly expanded. What started with five countries has grown into a wider network of partners, forming the 9 Eyes and eventually the 14 Eyes.
How These Countries Work Together to Monitor the Internet
These alliances work by pooling together resources from agencies like the NSA (U.S.), GCHQ (UK), and others to monitor digital communications.
From Terrorism to Tapping VPNs, The Dark Side of Cooperation
While the idea might sound noble on paper, counterterrorism, cybercrime, foreign threats, it also opens the door to extensive data collection on ordinary citizens. That includes traffic from VPNs, especially those based in 5 Eyes countries or their broader alliances.
Which Countries Are in the 5/9/14 Eyes and Who’s Sharing Your Data?
So, who’s watching and who are they sharing the data with? Let’s break down the alliances.
The 5 Eyes Countries: The Tightest Intelligence Circle
This is the original, most tightly connected group, made up of:
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
These countries have deep-rooted intelligence ties and strong legal cooperation. VPN companies based in 5 Eyes countries may be compelled to hand over user data due to national security laws. And if that sounds intense, well, it is.
Who Joins the 5 Eyes to Form the 9 Eyes?
France
Netherlands
Denmark
Norway
With these four nations included, the alliance becomes more extensive. While the 9 Eyes doesn’t share the same deep coordination as the original five, intelligence is still exchanged.
If a VPN provider is headquartered in one of these states, there’s a real possibility your data could be swept into international hands.
The Full 14 Eyes Alliance, Where Global Spying Gets Real
Germany
Belgium
Italy
Sweden
Spain
This expanded group forms the largest known surveillance-sharing alliance. Not every country has the same weight or privileges, but together they enable cross-border cooperation that can bypass local privacy laws.
That’s why VPN users are often advised to avoid providers based in these jurisdictions, because what one country collects, another can quietly request.
Why Your VPN’s Legal Home Could Make or Break Your Privacy
So, you’re using a VPN and feeling safe? Here’s the uncomfortable truth: if it’s based in a 14 Eyes country, your data might not be as private as you think.
The Law Beats the App: What VPNs Legally Have to Do
VPNs don’t operate in a legal vacuum. They’re bound by the laws of the country they’re registered in and if that country is part of the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, or 14 Eyes alliance, it can compel companies to collect or hand over user data.
Need proof? In 2013, documents leaked by Edward Snowden revealed that intelligence agencies were not only monitoring web traffic but also pressuring tech companies, many of them under gag orders, to assist silently. VPNs are not immune to this.
They Can’t Even Tell You: The Power of Gag Orders
Even worse, if one agency gets access to your VPN traffic, it doesn’t stop there. Thanks to cross-border agreements, that data can quietly make the rounds between countries, from the UK to the U.S., then to Australia and you’ll never be notified. Not even a hint.
Jurisdiction Isn’t Marketing, It’s a Privacy Dealbreaker
This is why VPN jurisdiction privacy is more than a buzzword. It’s a warning label. Choosing a VPN located outside the reach of these alliances, in places with no legal obligation to log or share, is one of the most effective ways to reduce exposure.
Because when it comes to surveillance, what you don’t know can hurt you.
What VPN Jurisdiction Really Means and Why It Should Be Your First Filter
When people choose a VPN, they usually look for speed, apps, or price. But one of the most important factors and most overlooked, is where the company is legally based.
It’s Not Where You Use It, It’s Where It’s Based
A VPN’s jurisdiction is the country where it’s officially incorporated. That’s not just a boring business detail, it determines what surveillance laws it must obey and what kind of government pressure it might face.
That includes data retention laws, intelligence agency partnerships, and the risk of being hit with secret court orders, especially in 5 Eyes countries or their extended 9 and 14 Eyes alliances.
United States vs Panama: Two Very Different Privacy Stories
A VPN headquartered in the United States, a 5 Eyes founding member, can receive a National Security Letter, forcing it to log your activity without telling you.
On the other hand, a VPN based in Panama or the British Virgin Islands (like NordVPN or ExpressVPN) operates outside the Eyes alliances entirely. These governments don’t participate in the same surveillance networks and they’re far less likely to legally compel logging.
Location Isn’t Just a Detail, It’s the Privacy Foundation
Choosing a VPN with solid privacy features is great, but choosing one in the wrong jurisdiction can undo all of that. When a country can force a company to spy on its users, your encrypted tunnel isn’t as safe as it seems.
So, while it’s tempting to pick based on features or price, jurisdiction is the silent factor that could make or break your privacy, especially if you're trying to stay off the grid.
How to Pick a VPN That Stays Out of the 14 Eyes Web
If privacy matters to you, where your VPN is based should matter too.Choosing one outside the 14 Eyes countries isn’t overkill, it’s just smart risk reduction.
Top VPNs That Aren’t Based in Surveillance Alliances
Look for VPN providers headquartered in countries with strong privacy laws and no ties to surveillance-sharing alliances. Some of the most trusted include:
Panama – NordVPN
British Virgin Islands – ExpressVPN
Switzerland – ProtonVPN
Romania – CyberGhost
These regions don’t participate in the VPN surveillance alliance and typically don’t cooperate with foreign data requests.
Privacy Features That Actually Matter (Beyond Jurisdiction)
Jurisdiction is your first filter, but the tech behind the VPN still needs to prove itself. Here’s what to look for:
Strict no-log policies, verified by independent audits
RAM-only servers, which wipe all data automatically after reboot
Third-party audits and transparency reports, published regularly
If a VPN won’t back up its privacy claims with real evidence, move on.There are too many solid options to settle for “just trust us.”
Can You Trust a VPN Based in a 5 Eyes Country? Sometimes, Yes
Let’s address the elephant in the server room: some VPNs are based in 5 Eyes countries and yet, they still earn trust. But if you’re going to use one, you need to understand the trade-offs.
What Can Legally Happen to VPNs Based in 5 Eyes Countries
Some major VPNs are registered in Eyes alliance countries. That doesn’t mean they’re logging you by default, but it does mean they’re vulnerable to secret legal demands.
One example: TunnelBear, based in Canada, falls under 5 Eyes jurisdiction. While it publishes transparency reports and has been independently audited, its legal exposure still raises eyebrows for privacy-focused users.
Another case: Encrypt.me, previously based in the U.S., was acquired by J2 Global, a company with a long history of aggressive data retention policies across its brands.
The Invisible Risks You Agree to Without Knowing
If you’re using a VPN based in a 14 Eyes country, here’s what might happen behind the scenes:
Silent data collection: National Security Letters (NSLs) can force VPNs to log activity without informing you
Persistent storage: Disk-based servers leave data behind, creating long-term exposure
No public accountability: VPNs that don’t publish transparency reports leave you guessing who has access
When a VPN Inside Eyes Jurisdiction Still Proves Itself
Some providers have pushed back with transparency:
Private Internet Access (PIA) - based in the U.S., but proven in court to have no logs to hand over
Surfshark - though headquartered in the Netherlands (9 Eyes), it uses RAM-only servers and undergoes regular audits
They’re not perfect, but they’re at least playing the privacy game above the table.
It’s Not Just Where, It’s What They Can Be Forced to Do
Being based in 5 Eyes countries doesn’t automatically disqualify a VPN, but it does add risk. You’re not just choosing an app with a slick UI. You’re trusting a company to resist quiet pressure from powerful governments.
When 14 Eyes countries can share surveillance like a neighborhood watch on steroids, your VPN’s legal home starts to matter just as much as its features.
Can a VPN Inside the 14 Eyes Be Safe? Only If It Checks These Boxes
Here’s the thing, just because a VPN operates inside the 14 Eyes countries doesn’t mean it’s useless for privacy. It just means the bar for trust is much higher.
How Some VPNs Earn Trust Even in Eyes Countries
Some providers based in these regions go above and beyond to prove they don’t store user data, even when pressured by their governments.
Take ProtonVPN, for instance. While its email sibling, ProtonMail, is based in Switzerland (which is not part of the Eyes alliances), other Proton services have demonstrated privacy-first practices through third-party audits and regular transparency reports.
4 Things That Separate Private VPNs from Pretenders
So what makes a VPN still worth considering, even if it’s under the VPN surveillance alliance umbrella?
RAM-only servers: Wipe all user data every time they reboot.
Court-proven no-logs history: Some VPNs have been subpoenaed and had nothing to hand over.
Independent audits: Trust is earned, and verified, by third parties.
Transparency reports and warrant canaries: These let users know when (or if) legal demands are made, or when companies are silenced by gag orders.
Can You Trust a VPN in 5 Eyes Countries?
Not entirely, but not blindly distrusting them either.
Where a VPN is based shouldn't be the only factor. VPN jurisdiction privacy is a vital lens, but so are its technical safeguards and its track record of transparency.
Still, if you’re highly cautious, maybe a journalist, dissident, or just someone with a lot to lose, choosing a provider outside the 5 Eyes countries gives you a layer of distance that might make all the difference.
What You Now Know About 5 Eyes Countries and Why It Matters
The 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes alliances aren’t just geopolitical trivia, they shape how much control governments have over your personal data. From VPN jurisdictions to hidden surveillance partnerships, these alliances quietly influence which providers can truly protect your privacy.
If your VPN is based in one of the 5 Eyes countries, it could be subject to legal pressure that undermines its no-logs promise, no matter how user-friendly the app looks on the surface.
So here’s the real question: are you choosing your VPN based on features alone, or on the legal system it operates under? When privacy really matters, knowing who’s behind the scenes might matter more than anything else.
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