VPN logging trends: assessment by country

Hi,

I have done a search on Wilders and I don't think the following data has been posted. Without deeper research I would say it looks like a reliable assessment of VPN logging trends according to countries; but there may well be errors in it people might like to correct to update it - and maybe clear up some of the question marks in the list.

Someone from privateinternetaccess.com, on July 1, 2012, has posted information about logging laws for VPNs in a long list of countries.

From a just earlier post by the person (partial quote):

To our beloved Private Internet Access VPN Subscribers,

The future of the Internet is at risk, with many entities all around the world attempting to take away the freedoms and liberties of the citizens of the world, including people like ourselves and our clients. Our ultimate dream is to protect these freedoms and liberties, as well as the rights to free speech and uncensored access to data on the Internet, which has helped drive prosperity unbeknownst to society.

However, the MPAA has cast a dark shadow on the Internet. We are regretful to inform our subscribers that any BitTorrent activity must now be conducted on our Swiss and other offshore gateways. We have received too many abuse and copyright infringement complaints on our US and UK gateways which has forced us, in order to protect our customers, to this policy change. We do not log our users' network traffic in any way, shape, or form. Your privacy and anonymity is our absolute #1 priority.​

Full post is at: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r27288554-Zero-logs-​

A follow-up post has the following list (full quote):

Good countries for VPN:
Argentina - No data retention law
Brazil - No data retention law
Bulgaria - Data retention law not applicable to VPN providers
Cyprus - Data retention law declared unconstitutional (?)
Czech Republic - No data retention law (declared unconstitutional)
Hong Kong - No data retention law (?)
Iceland - No data retention period specified (?); good privacy laws
Japan - No data retention law
Luxemburg - Data retention law not applicable to VPN providers
Netherlands - Data retention law not applicable to VPN providers
Panama - No data retention law
Romania - Data retention law declared unconstitutional
Serbia - Data retention law not applicable to VPN providers (?)
Sweden - Data retention law going into effect in May 2012, but (presumably) not applicable to VPNs
Taiwan - No data retention law (?) + seemingly good privacy laws
Ukraine - No data retention law

"Questionable" Countries:
Australia - No data retention law, but internet regulations are strict & they're on RSF's Internet Surveillance 2012 watch list
Belgium - Data retention law not implemented, but has fairly strict laws & some internet censorship issues (esp. anti-p2p)
Canada - No data retention law, but anti-privacy legislation is rapidly gaining traction
Egypt - No data retention law (?), but privacy laws are dubious & they're on RSF's Internet Surveillance watch list
France - Data retention law not applicable to VPNs, but has strict laws & they're on RSF's Internet Surveillance watch list
Germany - Data retention law declared unconstitutional, but server raids & gov't surveillance are prevalent
Israel - No data retention law, but gov't surveillance is suspected (conflict zone)
Italy - Data retention law not applicable to VPNs, but internet regulations are fairly strict & there are some censorship issues
Malaysia - No data retention law, but has some censorship/server raid issues & they're on RSF's Internet Surveillance watch list
Mexico - No data retention law, but there are concerns about gov't corruption & some internet censorship issues
New Zealand - No data retention law, but there are concerns about gov't surveillance
Russia - No data retention law (?), but they have some censorship issues & they're on RSF's Internet Surveillance watch list
Singapore - Minimal data retention law, but has fairly strict internet regulations & some censorship issues
South Africa - No data retention law, but internet regulations are strict
South Korea - No data retention law, but they have some censorship issues & they're on RSF's Internet Surveillance watch list
United States - No data retention law, but server raids and gov't surveillance are prevalent

Bad Countries for VPN:
Afghanistan - Suspected surveillance by allied forces (war zone)
Armenia - Internet censorship
Austria - Data retention law
Bahrain - Internet censorship
Belarus - Internet censorship
Burma (Myanmar) - Internet censorship
China - Internet censorship + data retention law
Cuba - Internet censorship
Denmark - Data retention law
Estonia - Data retention law
Ethiopia - Internet censorship
Finland - Data retention law
Greece - Data retention law
Hungary - Data retention law
India - Internet censorship + data retention law
Indonesia - Internet censorship
Iran - Internet censorship + data retention law
Iraq - Suspected surveillance by allied forces (war zone)
Ireland - Data retention law
Kuwait - Internet censorship
Latvia - Data retention law
Liechtenstein - Data retention law
Lithuania - Data retention law
Malta - Data retention law
Morocco - Internet censorship
North Korea - Internet censorship (internet infrastructure is virtually non-existent here anyway)
Norway - Data retention law
Oman - Internet censorship
Pakistan - Internet censorship
Palestinian Territory - Internet censorship
Poland - Data retention law
Portugal - Data retention law
Qatar - Internet censorship
Saudi Arabia - Internet censorship
Slovakia - Data retention law
Slovenia - Data retention law
Spain - Data retention law
Sudan - Internet censorship
Switzerland - Data retention law
Syria - Internet censorship
Thailand - Internet censorship + data retention law
Tunisia - Internet censorship
Turkey - Data retention law + internet censorship
Turkmenistan - Internet censorship
United Arab Emirates - Internet censorship
United Kingdom - Data retention law
Uzbekistan - Internet censorship
Vietnam - Internet censorship
Yemen - Internet censorship http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r27288551- ​

The full thread appears below an unrelated, Best VPN Providers, forum article above it: http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Exploring-The-Best-VPN-Providers-120042

 

interesting this should be sticky worthy

 

That assessment of countries was already posted right here on Wilders - by ME. Evidently, someone else posted a copy of it (without citation or permission, of course) over on the DSLReports Forums. Not that I mind so much, but I think it needs to be reiterated that my post was only intended as a rough draft based upon preliminary research; it was not meant to be quoted as an authoritative source.

Please see post #6 (and all follow-up replies) on this thread:

Countries who have bad Internet Privacy Laws

In retrospect, my criteria for assessing "good" vs. "bad" was far too simplistic, given the multitude of variables involved. If I were to re-write that list today, it would probably come out somewhat different... which is exactly why I'd prefer if people use it only as a starting point for further research, rather than simply copying it word-for-word.

 

Sorry CasperFace! My Bad. My searches based on countries didn't reveal your 'primary research' post; I realise why now; my search covered the 'privacy technology' forum - and didn't include 'privacy general'. Must expand my horizons . I apologize.

Now the good news. I have followed your link to the original thread you posted in - and it is a good and helpful discussion, which will help someone like me new to VPNs. There is another long-running 'sticky' thread on VPNs which covers countries and laws, but I was getting a bit lost there. I needed a more focused discussion. Thanks.