Surveillance Alliances: What Are 5/9/14 Eyes Countries?

Last Updated on April 4, 2025 by Editorial

Ever wonder how governments keep tabs on global threats? They don’t do it alone. Countries work together through surveillance alliances. These are networks that let them share intelligence, monitor online activity, and track potential dangers. 

The biggest ones are called the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes. They’re groups of countries that pool their resources to gather and swap surveillance data. While these partnerships help with national security, they also raise big questions about privacy and cybersecurity. 

Who’s watching? What kind of data gets shared? And how does it affect the internet freedoms of everyday people?

If you’re concerned about online privacy or just curious about how these agreements work, keep reading. We’ll break down what these alliances are, which countries are involved, and what it all means for you.

What Are the 5 Eyes Countries?

The 5 Eyes is one of the most powerful surveillance alliances in the world. It’s a group of five countries that work together to collect and share intelligence. Originally created during World War II to break enemy codes, it’s now a full-scale spying network that monitors global communications.

The five members include the following:

• The United States
• The United Kingdom
• Australia
• Canada
• New Zealand

These countries work together to track online activity, phone calls, and other forms of communication. This isn’t just about catching criminals or preventing threats—it’s also about mass surveillance. 

Governments can gather data on their citizens, but they can also rely on their allies to collect information they legally can’t. That makes this alliance a massive intelligence-sharing machine.

Besides spying on people, the 5 Eyes countries also cooperate on cybersecurity. They watch for cyber threats, protect each other’s networks, and exchange intel on hacking groups.

But while they claim to keep people safe, privacy advocates have raised concerns. Documents leaked by Edward Snowden showed just how deep this surveillance goes. Many people worry that everyday internet users could be tracked without knowing it.

What Are the 9 Eyes Countries?

The 9 Eyes is an expanded version of the 5 Eyes and plays a major role in global intelligence-sharing. This group builds on the original surveillance alliances by adding four more countries: France, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. 

These nations aren’t full members like the original five, but they still have special agreements to share intelligence.

So, what’s the difference?

The 5 Eyes countries have the closest intelligence-sharing relationship. They collect and swap massive amounts of data, including intercepted online communications and phone records. 

The 9 Eyes members get access to some of that information, but they’re not part of the core decision-making process. The U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand still hold the most control over what gets shared and how.

Even with these limits, the 9 Eyes still allows for wide-scale surveillance across multiple regions.

What Are the 14 Eyes Countries?

The 14 Eyes is the biggest of the surveillance alliances, bringing even more countries into the mix. 

It includes the original 5 Eyes (U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), plus the 9 Eyes members (France, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway). Then, five more countries join in: Germany, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, and Spain. 

Together, they work on intelligence gathering, data exchange, and cybersecurity efforts.

The 5 Eyes nations share intelligence the most freely. The 9 Eyes countries have more limited access. And the 14 Eyes members? They work with the others but don’t have the same level of trust or access to top-secret data. They exchange information but they too, like the extra 5 members of the 9, aren’t part of the core decision-making process.

How Surveillance Alliances Affect Privacy

These surveillance alliances have a huge impact on privacy. They focus on gathering data on a massive scale. This includes:

• Internet activity – Websites you visit, searches, and even messages sent through certain platforms.
• Emails and texts – Content, metadata, and contact details.
• Phone calls – Numbers dialed, call durations, and sometimes even recordings.
• Social media activity – Posts, interactions, and messaging data.
• Bank transactions – Some financial data can be monitored for suspicious activity.
• Location tracking – GPS data from phones and other connected devices.

So how is privacy affected? In the following ways.

• Mass Surveillance – The 5 Eyes countries have been caught collecting data on their citizens. If one country can’t legally spy on its people, it might get intel from another member.
• No Real Opt-Out – Even if you use privacy settings or avoid certain apps, your data can still be picked up through connections, public records, or metadata.
• VPNs and Encryption Get Targeted – Some alliances try to weaken encryption, making it easier to access private messages and data.
• Data Sharing Without Consent – You might live in one country, but your data could end up in another without you ever knowing.
• Increased Government Control – Some argue this kind of surveillance helps with security, but it also means governments have a lot more power over digital communications.

How to Protect Yourself From Surveillance Alliances

You should be worried about government surveillance of any kind. Fortunately, there are things you can use to keep yourself safe. They include the following.

1. Use a VPN to Bypass Surveillance Alliances

Your internet service provider (ISP) can see everything you do online, including the websites you visit, files you download, and messages you send (unless they’re encrypted). Many countries in surveillance alliances access and share this data.

A virtual private network hides your internet activity from prying eyes. It encrypts your data and routes it through a secure server, making it harder for surveillance programs to track you. 

For the best privacy:

• Avoid free VPNs – Many free VPNs log your data and sell it.
• Look for a no-logs policy – A good VPN doesn’t store records of your activity.
• Pick a provider outside surveillance-heavy countries – Countries in the 5, 9, or 14 Eyes alliances could force VPNs to hand over data. Consider providers based in Panama, Switzerland, or the British Virgin Islands.
• Check for strong encryption – AES-256 encryption and protocols like WireGuard or OpenVPN are best.

2. Encrypt Your Messages and Emails

Regular texts, emails, and calls are easy to intercept. Many messaging apps store your conversations on their servers, meaning they could be accessed by governments or hackers. End-to-end encryption (E2EE) ensures that only you and the person you’re talking to can read your messages. 

To counter this level of surveillance through email encryption, use the following secured email and messaging options.

• Signal – Open-source, end-to-end encrypted, and doesn’t store metadata.
• Telegram (Secret Chats only) – Regular chats aren’t encrypted, but Secret Chats are.
• Session – No phone number needed, completely decentralized.
• ProtonMail – End-to-end encrypted, based in Switzerland.
• Tutanota – Another good encrypted email provider, based in Germany.
• Mailfence – Based in Belgium, supports encrypted email and digital signatures.

If you must use Gmail or Outlook, enable PGP encryption to add extra protection.

3. Secure Your Browsing

Your web browser is one of the biggest privacy risks. It tracks everything from your search history to the websites you visit. Many browsers also allow companies, advertisers, and even governments to collect data on you without you realizing it. 

Here’s how to stay safer:

• Use a privacy-focused browser: Mainstream browsers like Chrome and Edge collect user data and send it back to their companies. Instead, consider alternatives like Brave, Tor, and Firefox.
• Block ads, trackers, and fingerprinting: Many websites use scripts that track what you do, what device you use, and even how you move your mouse. Stop them by installing blockers like uBlock Origin or enabling features like Privacy Badger.
• Use private search engines: Google collects and stores every search you make. Instead, switch to DuckDuckGo, Startpage, or Searx.
• Turn off third-party cookies: Cookies track your browsing across different websites. Many advertisers use them to build detailed profiles of you so ensure you disable internet cookies on your browsers.

4. Protect Your Devices

Your phone, laptop, and other devices hold a huge amount of personal information. If they’re not secure, surveillance groups or hackers could access everything. To ensure nothing falls into the wrong hands, consider the following security steps:

• Keep software and operating systems updated – Updates fix security flaws that could be exploited.
• Use strong passwords – Long, random passwords are best. Use a password manager to keep track of them.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) – Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts.
• Turn off unnecessary permissions – Many apps request access to your camera, microphone, location, and contacts without needing them. Disable what isn’t required.
• Use full-disk encryption – Both Windows and macOS have built-in options (BitLocker and FileVault). Android and iOS also have device encryption.

5. Be Smart About Social Media

Companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft collect enormous amounts of personal data. They track what you search, where you go, who you talk to, and what you buy. Much of this data can be accessed by governments, even without a warrant.

• Set accounts to private – Don’t make your posts visible to everyone.
• Limit personal details – Avoid sharing your location, full name, or birthday.
• Turn off location tracking – Many apps tag your location without you realizing it.
• Use aliases or pseudonyms – If possible, don’t use your real name on platforms where privacy matters.

If you must use services like Facebook or Instagram, lock down your privacy settings and avoid sharing too much personal information. Better still, stay off social media completely.

6. Use Cash and Cryptocurrency

Every time you pay with a credit card or digital payment app, your transaction is recorded. Banks and payment companies store this information and share it with governments and advertisers.

Ways to pay more privately:

• Use cash when possible – It’s untraceable and leaves no digital footprint.
• Use cryptocurrency – Coins like Monero and Bitcoin (if used properly) can be more private.
• Avoid linking payment apps to your bank account – Prepaid cards and privacy-focused payment services are safer.

If you need to use PayPal, Venmo, or Apple Pay, assume your transactions are being tracked.

7. Disable Smart Assistants and IoT Devices

Smart assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are constantly listening. Even if they claim to activate only when triggered, many cases have shown them recording and storing private conversations.

To better secure your privacy:

• Disable voice assistants – Turn off Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant in settings.
• Unplug smart home devices when not in use.
• Use local, offline alternatives – Some smart devices let you store data locally instead of sending it to the cloud.
• Check permissions on IoT devices – Many require access to your network, location, and voice data.

Many smart TVs, fridges, and even light bulbs have built-in microphones and cameras. If privacy is a concern, think twice before buying “smart” gadgets.

8. Learn About Your Rights

Depending on where you live, privacy laws can vary. Some countries have strict data protection rules, while others allow mass surveillance with little oversight. To be om the safe side, know your rights in your country. 

• Does your government collect internet data?
  
• Can authorities access your phone or emails without a warrant?
  
• Are VPNs legal in your country?

Many privacy organizations provide guides on what rights you have. Some good resources include:

• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – Defends digital privacy rights.
• Privacy International – Investigates surveillance programs worldwide.
• Access Now – Provides resources on online security and privacy laws.

The more you know, the better you can protect yourself.

Beating Surveillance Alliances

Surveillance alliances like the 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, and 14 Eyes play a major role in global intelligence gathering. While they help with national security, they also raise serious privacy concerns. 

These networks collect vast amounts of data, and everyday internet users may have little control over how their information is tracked and shared.

The good news? You don’t have to be powerless. Taking steps like using a VPN, encrypting messages, securing your devices, and being mindful of online activity can help protect your privacy.

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