Working Groups & Initiatives: The VPN Trust Initiative
The VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) is a consortium of leading VPN providers focused on improving digital safety for consumers by building understanding, strengthening trust, and mitigating risk for VPN users.
VPN Trust Initiative
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) add security and privacy to online communications and activity, and can provide unrestricted access to the global online world.
The VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) is an industry-led and member-driven consortium of VPN business leaders focused on improving digital safety for consumers by building understanding, strengthening trust, and mitigating risk for VPN users.
Promoting Safety and Privacy Online
VPNs empower Internet users by enhancing online anonymity, bypassing geographic restrictions, securing data transfers, and more. As a result of these benefits, and the growing focus on digital security, the global VPN market is predicted to reach $35.73 billion in 2022.
VPNs essentially ensure data flows between endpoints are private and secure. And while some VPNs successfully protect users, others may — either accidentally or intentionally — expose users to greater risk. VPN services that do not meet the demands or expectations of users can put both professional and personal security at risk.
How We Foster Trust and Empower VPN Consumers
The VPN Trust Initiative brings together first-hand insights and focuses on advocacy, education, and awareness.
The VTI seeks to create change by reaching three key groups: legislators, technologists, and end-users. This, in turn, will facilitate a more self-regulatory industry and alter the trajectory of VPN discourse through the advocacy, creation, and validation of policies that strengthen trust and transparency while mitigating risk for users.
Ethical best practices and thorough industry standards are the key to not only ensuring safety and trust from users, but for underpinning the importance and beneficial nature of this technology into the future. At the same time though, legislation that is not conscientiously crafted and backed by insider industry expertise — or legislation that targets all VPNs — would be disastrous for the industry, for online free speech, and for further innovation using VPN technology.
Bringing Together VPNs that Value Privacy and Security
The VTI is an initiative of the i2Coalition, the leading voice for web hosting companies, data centers, domain registrars and registries, cloud infrastructure providers, managed services providers, and related tech.
The VTI was formed in 2019 when i2Coalition brought together five key VPN providers to participate in a new initiative aimed at fostering cooperation in the industry. In the time since then, members have leveraged their collective first-hand knowledge and insights to advocate for beneficial VPN technical standards and business best-practices.
The VTI was established by five founding member companies and their associated brands: NordVPN, Golden Frog (VyprVPN), ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NetProtect (encrypt.me, WLVPN, SugarSync, IPVanish, StrongVPN, OverPlay, SaferVPN).
Ethical best practices and thorough industry standards are the key to not only ensuring safety and trust from users, but for underpinning the importance and beneficial nature of this technology into the future. At the same time though, legislation that is not conscientiously crafted and backed by insider industry expertise — or legislation that targets all VPNs — would be disastrous for the industry, for online free speech, and for further innovation using VPN technology.
VTI Certification: A Signal to the World
The VPN Trust Seal accreditation program provides a clear public indicator that a participating VPN provider follows established best practices for delivering service in the following five areas:
Security
VPNs will use the necessary security measures, including strong encryption and authentication protocols, to appropriately address the risks. Advertising Practices: Given the complexity and different use cases for VPNs, claims must not mislead.
Privacy
VPNs should keep as little data as they deem necessary to provide the service and only produce data to law enforcement when legally required.
Disclosure and Transparency
VPNs provide greater security and privacy—social goods that are important to those trying to make the world a better place.
Advertising Practices
Given the complexity and different use cases for VPNs, claims must not mislead.
“Now when VPN customers try to determine which providers align with their ethics, they can look for the VPN Trust Seal and gain some assurances about the commitments behind the products they are looking to purchase.”
DISCLOSURE AND TRANSPARENCY
VPNs provide greater security and privacySOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
VPN providers will promote VPN technology to support access to the global Internet and freedom of expression.
These principles have been informed by input from businesses, legislators, free speech advocates, and other outside experts to protect the privacy and security of VPN users; offer practical policy guidelines for VPN providers; and ensure policymakers, regulators, and the wider market have access to clear criteria for evaluating these technologies.
For more detailed information on each of these principles and how to get the VPN Trust Seal, please contact Hilary Osborne at [email protected]