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> Quad9 is based in Switzerland. Despite what may be common knowledge from movies, there is a very formal and rigorous process for governments (Swiss or non-Swi

> Quad9 is based in Switzerland. Despite what may be common knowledge from movies, there is a very formal and rigorous process for governments (Swiss or non-Swiss) to demand data. Due to Lugano Convention [0] / Budapest Convention [1] / Hague Convention etc, I don't see how Switzerland is any more insulated than, say, Norway is (both these countries are part of EFTA & signatories to various UN/EU/EFTA treaties). Per this article [2], Switzerland ranks below Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, France in Data privacy laws (in fact, it ranks the same as the UK). If I am being honest, at this point, "based in Switzerland" (or Cyprus or Sweden or Gibraltar) comes across as marketing gimmick VPN companies are notorious for. [0] EU civil & commercial law enforcement in Switzerland: https://www.legal500.com/guides/chapter/switzerland-enforcement-judgments/ https://www.legal500.com/guides/chapter/switzerland-enforcem... [1] Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) is bypassed: https://rm.coe.int/16802e726c https://rm.coe.int/16802e726c [2] https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/surveillance-states/ https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/surveillance-st...

johnhtodd 28d ago
Our goal is not "insulation" as much as it is "transparency." Governments that do not adhere to legal frameworks like the ones you reference above are also governments that have inconsistent or easily-changed legal structures - we are not hiding in some obscure and possibly unstable nation that ignores international standards. Our jurisdictional choice of Switzerland is the opposite of that. Switzerland has a strong history of making legal enforcement events transparent, with processes that follow expected process. We cannot avoid following the law, nor is that our goal. Swiss data privacy law is also much more strict on us, which "puts our money where out mouth is" as the saying goes. Violating privacy laws in Switzerland may result in criminal penalties, not simply civil penalties - jail time, rather than just fines.

johnhtodd 28d ago

Our goal is not "insulation" as much as it is "transparency." Governments that do not adhere to legal frameworks like the ones you reference above are also governments that have inconsistent or easily-changed legal structures - we are not hiding in some obscure and possibly unstable nation that ignores international standards. Our jurisdictional choice of Switzerland is the opposite of that. Switzerland has a strong history of making legal enforcement events transparent, with processes that follow expected process. We cannot avoid following the law, nor is that our goal. Swiss data privacy law is also much more strict on us, which "puts our money where out mouth is" as the saying goes. Violating privacy laws in Switzerland may result in criminal penalties, not simply civil penalties - jail time, rather than just fines.