Key Takeaways

  • The Members: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. These 5 countries share almost all intelligence data with each other.
  • The Loophole: The USA cannot legally spy on US citizens (NSA restriction). So, they ask the UK (GCHQ) to spy on the US citizen and "share" the data back. It allows domestic surveillance by proxy.
  • Extended Eyes: The 9 Eyes (Adds France, Norway...) and 14 Eyes (Adds Germany, Italy...) widen the net.

If you choose a VPN service, choose one based OUTSIDE the 14 Eyes jurisdiction (like Switzerland, Panama, or British Virgin Islands).

History: ECHELON

Started in the Cold War to monitor Soviet satellites, it evolved into a global dragnet monitoring phone calls, faxes, and emails. Edward Snowden revealed the extent of this with the PRISM program in 2013.

Impact on Privacy

If you live in Germany (14 Eyes) and use a server in the US (5 Eyes), your data is accessible to intelligence agencies in at least 14 countries. There is no such thing as "local data" anymore.

The Great Firewall of China

While the West has the 5 Eyes (Passive Surveillance), China uses active blocking. Their "Golden Shield" project blocks access to Google, Facebook, and Wikipedia entirely, creating a splintered internet (Splinternet).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does this matter?
Knowledge is power. If governments can read every private thought, democracy is threatened. It creates a chilling effect on free speech.
Is Switzerland safe?
Switzerland is NOT part of the EU or EEA. It has strict privacy laws. However, it does cooperate with international agencies on serious crimes (Terrorism), but not for political dissent or copyright.

How do companies protect themselves?
Read Zero Trust Guide