The VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) believes in a free, open, and secure Internet where individuals have the right to privacy, cybersecurity, and unrestricted access to information. VPNs are essential tools that protect users from cyber threats, safeguard personal data, and enable freedom of expression in an interconnected world.
We stand firmly against misguided policies and legal actions that, while claiming to protect freedoms or combat online piracy, instead overreach and attempt to restrict, content-neutral, lawful VPN services. Such efforts are misplaced, ineffective, and dangerous, as they:
- Compromise privacy and security – VPNs are crucial cybersecurity tools that defend individuals, businesses, and journalists from cyber threats and surveillance that undermine fundamental rights, such as the right to privacy and the right of free speech. Blocking VPNs exposes users to an increasing number of unnecessary risks and potential human rights violations.
- Threaten Internet freedom – Restricting VPNs echoes authoritarian censorship practices seen in repressive regimes. An open Internet is a fundamental right, and efforts to block VPNs set a dangerous global precedent.
- Fail to address the root cause of piracy – History has shown that blocking infrastructure does not reduce piracy. Instead of targeting content-neutral technology, the focus should be on addressing the actual sources of infringing content.
- Encourage unsafe alternatives – Sweeping restrictions end up targeting responsible VPN providers; pushing users toward unregulated, insecure, and potentially malicious alternatives, increasing their exposure to cybercrime.
A Call for Sensible Policy
We call on policymakers, industry leaders, and the global community to recognize the indispensable role of VPNs in digital security and freedom. We also urge governments to adopt measured, technology-neutral approaches that target illegal content without undermining cybersecurity, privacy, or fundamental rights.
The VTI Principles guide our commitment to ethical VPN practices, ensuring transparency, security, and trustworthiness in the industry. We advocate for policies that uphold these standards while protecting individuals’ rights to privacy and secure online access.
Together, we must stand against censorship and overreach, ensuring that the Internet remains a place of safety, innovation, and free expression for all.