Surfshark releases first transparency report

In a welcomed move aimed at enhancing user trust, one of PCWorld’s top VPNs Surfshark has released its brand-new transparency report. The report is set to be updated on a quarterly basis and will include such information as DMCA requests, inquiries from government institutions, national security letters, gag orders, warrants from government organizations, and any requests received in accordance with DSA.

Transparency reports are a useful privacy tool that VPN providers have started releasing to the public in recent years. They display the number of data requests on users from both private and government organizations, plus the number of requests that resulted in disclosure of user data. 

This can give a user an indication as to what kind of information and to whom the VPN might be sharing private user data. It is also another way to confirm that a VPN is truly sticking to its no-logs policy.

In the case of Surfshark, for the latest period between April and June of 2024, they received a total of 357,269 DMCA requests — typically illegal copyright claims — and 45 inquiries from government institutions. According to the report, none of these “resulted in the disclosure of user-related data,” indicating that Surfshark is sufficiently protecting the private data of its users.

While this is the first such report from Surfshark in this form, other companies such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, CyberGhost, and Proton VPN have all been issuing transparency reports for a few years now. It’s a step in the right direction for Surfshark and something more VPNs should be doing in the future.

Further reading: The best VPN services