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Does a service being part of the “5-eyes” really mean anything? I mean, this list makes it sound like being in China is a better alternative than being in Canad

Does a service being part of the “5-eyes” really mean anything? I mean, this list makes it sound like being in China is a better alternative than being in Canada.

mikece 6y ago
Depends on the service and whether you are trying to hide from somebody who can issue a warrant or you are just trying to hide from corporations who sell your data. Also depends upon the level of encryption. For example, spider oak can hand over encrypted blocks of data if served a warrant but can’t tell even what your file names are in those encrypted blobs. What specifically do you have in mind?
vmception 6y ago
No, it doesn’t. There was a time period where people were trying to use/put services in Iceland or Switzerland because they weren’t part of a known default sharing arrangement and people completely relied on poor interpretations of laws acting like the government took a completely hands off approach to data. The reality is that absent a treaty, these places can all choose respond to foreign warrants and often times do. China and Russia being notably separate from the rest of the world, and also large areas.
- SahAssar 6y ago
  > The reality is that absent a treaty, these places can all choose respond to foreign warrants and often times do. The question shouldn't be if they "can" the question should be if they "can be forced to and be legally required not to disclose it". There is a reason American companies have tried to hack around the law with warrant canaries.
  - vmception 6y ago
    In your mind, how was the last paragraph relevant to the other country thing? But the answer is yes they can be forced, absolutely. All countries have more to lose with the US (not that there is an ideological line in the sand, countries willingly cooperate with FBI, which is instructed by Congress to handle foreign investigations as well) and this is exactly what has played out in case after case after case.
guerrilla 6y ago
It depends entirely on your thread model. If you're trying to avoid persecution by one of the 5-eyes and not any of the others, then yes, obviously it matters. For example, for dissidents, leakers, activists, etc. Having someone else spy on you who doesn't care about you and what you're doing isn't as big of a deal in such cases.

Does a service being part of the “5-eyes” really mean anything? I mean, this list makes it sound like being in China is a better alternative than being in Canada.

mikece 6y ago

Depends on the service and whether you are trying to hide from somebody who can issue a warrant or you are just trying to hide from corporations who sell your data. Also depends upon the level of encryption. For example, spider oak can hand over encrypted blocks of data if served a warrant but can’t tell even what your file names are in those encrypted blobs. What specifically do you have in mind?

vmception 6y ago

No, it doesn’t. There was a time period where people were trying to use/put services in Iceland or Switzerland because they weren’t part of a known default sharing arrangement and people completely relied on poor interpretations of laws acting like the government took a completely hands off approach to data. The reality is that absent a treaty, these places can all choose respond to foreign warrants and often times do. China and Russia being notably separate from the rest of the world, and also large areas.

SahAssar 6y ago
> The reality is that absent a treaty, these places can all choose respond to foreign warrants and often times do. The question shouldn't be if they "can" the question should be if they "can be forced to and be legally required not to disclose it". There is a reason American companies have tried to hack around the law with warrant canaries.
- vmception 6y ago
  In your mind, how was the last paragraph relevant to the other country thing? But the answer is yes they can be forced, absolutely. All countries have more to lose with the US (not that there is an ideological line in the sand, countries willingly cooperate with FBI, which is instructed by Congress to handle foreign investigations as well) and this is exactly what has played out in case after case after case.

guerrilla 6y ago

It depends entirely on your thread model. If you're trying to avoid persecution by one of the 5-eyes and not any of the others, then yes, obviously it matters. For example, for dissidents, leakers, activists, etc. Having someone else spy on you who doesn't care about you and what you're doing isn't as big of a deal in such cases.