Online privacy now seems to be a luxury of the past. It’s a fundamental right that is under threat in a world where everything’s connected. Every single online interaction, whether big or small, leaves a mark that is a key to our personal information. Sometimes, it feels as if our lives are just TV shows for others to follow. And you know who’s really interested in that? Governments and international corporations. An example of how governments are collecting our data is intelligence-sharing alliances such as the Five Eyes and the Fourteen Eyes. Fortunately, tools such as HorizonVPN offer a solution to our privacy crises. In this blog post, we’ll explore what these alliances are and how we can protect our privacy from them. 

What Exactly Are the Eyes Alliances?

Even the names of these alliances (5 Eyes, 9 Eyes and 14 Eyes) may remind you of Big Brother. The basis for the formation of these international coalitions is sharing intelligence and surveillance data among member countries so that it’s easier to monitor communications on an international level. 

The 5 Eyes is the first of these groups, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These English-speaking countries have a long history of sharing intelligence among themselves. A bigger group of countries, the 9 Eyes alliance, adds Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway to the mix. Finally, the 14 Eyes alliance includes all the above plus Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. 

Each member country has a mandate to share data and contribute resources to these networks. These countries have essentially created a semi-international surveillance program through these efforts that monitor global communications. In the case of the 5 Eyes, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center reports that a group of non-political entities are tasked with review and oversight.

So, what does this mean for you? The existence of these alliances means the details of your online activities are available to multiple governments, even if you’re not a citizen. These nosy neighbors are peeking through the windows of your online communications to gather data. Although positive outcomes are coming out of these collaborations, they are, to some, a significant invasion of privacy.

Why VPN Jurisdiction Matters

The laws regarding data privacy are different all over the world. While some countries have strict rules mandating companies to store private data, there are some regions that prioritize privacy. This lenient approach may lead to minimal data retention policies or even none at all. These formal requirements really affect how your data is handled in different countries.

VPN providers are subject to stringent rules in the “Eyes” countries that require them to give user data to the governments if needed. Sometimes, you might not even know that your personal data has been requested. For many people, the whole purpose of using a VPN is keeping their online activities private, and these laws actually undermine that.

There is a simple solution for those who care about their privacy: using a VPN that is based in the jurisdiction of the member countries of the Eyes alliances. These VPNs are free to impose their own policies of data retention, which can be none at all. Utilizing these services, users are less concerned that their data is monitored, even if they’re citizens of alliance countries.

What Is the Advantage in the British Virgin Islands?

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a haven regarding privacy laws. There are no mandatory data retention laws in BVI, so companies aren’t legally bound to keep your personal data. This leads to an ideal situation for VPNs to stick to policies that require no data-keeping. Therefore, even if governments ask these companies for data, there is no data to begin with.

Furthermore, the BVI is not a member of the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, or 14 Eyes surveillance alliances. Therefore, there are no international agreements that dictate the BVI to what to do with your personal data. HorizonVPN operates from the BVP and is outside the reach of the Eyes alliances.

Because of BVI laws, HorizonVPN has legal protections against external demands for data. In the scenario that a government requests user information, BVI courts are under no obligation to comply. Interestingly, BVI laws respect privacy rights, so VPN services have more freedom to keep user data confidential.

How HorizonVPN Keeps You Safe

HorizonVPN’s no-logs policy ensures that your browsing history, connection timestamps, and data usage are never recorded. In other words, even if there is a request for your data, there’s nothing to hand over. HorizonVPN ensures that only you are aware of your online interactions.

Moreover, HorizonVPN utilizes top-tier encryption standards like AES-256 so that no one can penetrate your personal data. Even supercomputers are unable to decode this level of encryption in a realistic timeframe. Put differently, your information is put in an unbreakable vault that hackers and even ISPs have no access to.

Another option that HorizonVPN offers is its variety of servers. These servers are strategically located all over the world and provide users with different options regarding speed and security. Switching VPN servers also gives the users the opportunity to access different content libraries which are location-based.  

Final Thoughts: Protect Your Privacy

Due to international laws, it feels like your online activities are under constant surveillance. However, even when surveillance appears to be omnipresent, it’s worth taking action to keep your online privacy. VPNs help a lot in this regard, especially if they’re from a jurisdiction with rules protecting your online data. 

Operating from a privacy-friendly location, HorizonVPN offers you the perfect solution for your privacy concerns. With HorizonVPN, you can be sure that no one is tracking your personal information. Your privacy is our priority. Download today, and browse with confidence.