I’m in the US and thinking of setting up a political site that could raise some risks with the incoming administration. If I host it in a country like Germany or the UK but upload content from the US, how traceable would it be? Does it depend mostly on the hosting service’s privacy policy, or are there ways for it to still be traced back to me?
I don’t know much about the hosting aspect, but maybe consider the TLD you choose. Using a country-specific TLD not associated with the US might help.
Washington State has net neutrality and free speech protections. Right-leaning hosts there are known for their support of free speech, even if they disagree with the content. They won’t take down sites unless it’s something extreme like calls for violence. However, if the government wanted to track ownership, they could.
Remember that some people use free speech or political sites as fronts for illegal activity, so most hosting providers may be wary if they suspect that. Consider setting up a complex configuration, like using one server for hosting and another to proxy visitors, and use Cloudflare for DNS. This way, if one node goes down, you can be back online quickly without moving files.
Law enforcement could still trace it back, but this would add a layer of protection. You could also consider paying with crypto and using VPNs for further anonymity, though this isn’t legal advice!
For privacy, maybe look into Swiss hosting that takes Bitcoin.
Germany or the UK might offer some legal protections, but any login, payment, or IP activity could still trace back to you. Anonymity will depend on using things like VPNs, anonymous payment, and private domain registration.
How will you be paying? Germany has some strict censorship laws.
Sergio said:
How will you be paying? Germany has some strict censorship laws.
It doesn’t have to be Germany; I just used that as an example. I’ll go with whichever payment method is most private.
Make sure to look into your hosting provider’s privacy practices and add layers like VPNs and crypto payments to protect your identity further.
If you want to keep it private:
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Don’t use your personal info. Look for providers that don’t require ID verification.
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Use anonymous payment like crypto or prepaid cards (if available).
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Only access services through a trusted VPN. There’s a lot of info on VPNs in online forums.
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Keep backups and be ready for potential takedowns by using mirrors or alternative domains.
@Sydney
Be cautious about using false info for domain registration, as ICANN checks WHOIS data and could delete your domain if they find it’s incorrect.
Logan said:
@Sydney
Be cautious about using false info for domain registration, as ICANN checks WHOIS data and could delete your domain if they find it’s incorrect.
It’s a risk for sure. Might be helpful to have backup domains and let visitors know about alternatives if one gets taken down.
@Sydney
Are prepaid cards even accepted by EU hosts? I thought they mainly accepted traditional payment.
Sergio said:
@Sydney
Are prepaid cards even accepted by EU hosts? I thought they mainly accepted traditional payment.
If you want anonymity, it often means taking on other risks. Reliable and anonymous don’t always go together.
@Sydney
If a provider follows security laws, they won’t be able to serve anonymous clients without verification.
Sergio said:
@Sydney
If a provider follows security laws, they won’t be able to serve anonymous clients without verification.
Exactly.