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Increased demand for gray-zone hosting services due to US policy changes

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📰 1 unique sources, 1 articles

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Organizations and individuals concerned about data privacy and security are increasingly turning to gray-zone hosting providers to relocate sensitive information to jurisdictions with stronger privacy protections. This trend has accelerated since the start of the new US administration in early 2025. Hosting companies like FlokiNET and 1984 Hosting, based in countries like Iceland, Finland, the Netherlands, and Romania, are seeing a surge in requests from US-based clients seeking to protect their data from potential US law enforcement access. These hosting providers offer anonymous sign-up, anonymous payment, and strict privacy-by-default policies. They rely on open-source tools and a network of trusted collaborators to ensure data security. Legal maneuvers involve moving files between jurisdictions to optimize legal frameworks based on the type of content stored. The rise in demand for these services is driven by concerns over tightening government control over online information and the need for digital security. Iceland, in particular, has become a stronghold for free expression due to its robust legal protections and energy-efficient data centers.

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  1. 04.09.2025 16:45 📰 1 articles

    Surge in demand for gray-zone hosting services due to US policy changes

    Since the start of the new US administration in early 2025, organizations and individuals concerned about data privacy and security have increasingly turned to gray-zone hosting providers. These providers offer anonymous sign-up, anonymous payment, and strict privacy-by-default policies. They rely on open-source tools and a network of trusted collaborators to ensure data security. Iceland, in particular, has become a stronghold for free expression due to its robust legal protections and energy-efficient data centers. The Icelandic Modern Media Initiative (IMMI) provides strong legal protections for journalists, whistleblowers, and human rights defenders. Iceland is not a member of the European Union or the Five Eyes or Nine Eyes surveillance alliances, making it an attractive location for hosting providers.

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