ExpressVPN users call for boycott over Israeli ties amid Gaza conflict
By willowt // 2025-09-22
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  • Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi owns ExpressVPN.
  • Red Wolf surveillance system aids in apartheid against Palestinians.
  • ExpressVPN users call for boycott due to conflict in Gaza.
  • Amnesty International demands global ban on facial recognition surveillance.
  • Ethical implications of using privacy services tied to surveillance.
ExpressVPN users are rallying to call for a boycott of the popular privacy service, citing concerns over the company’s ownership by an Israeli cybersecurity firm and the allegations of human rights abuses in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The renewed calls for cancellation come as social media users increasingly scrutinize the ownership structures of online services they rely on, especially amid heightened tensions over Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories. In 2021, Kape Technologies, a British-Israeli digital security company, acquired ExpressVPN for nearly $1 billion. This acquisition has come under heavy scrutiny recently, particularly following reports about Teddy Sagi, the Israeli billionaire and owner of Kape Technologies. In 2023, Sagi donated $1 million to transport soldiers during the Israeli war on Gaza, a move that has intensified calls for boycotts from social media users and privacy advocates.

History of acquisitions by Kape Technologies

Kape Technologies, founded in 2010, has established itself as a major player in the digital security space, acquiring several companies like CyberGhost, ZenMate and Private Internet Access. These acquisitions have bolstered Kape’s position as a prominent provider of privacy and security services to millions of users worldwide. The acquisition of ExpressVPN, one of the largest providers of consumer privacy and security services, has significantly expanded Kape’s reach. However, the controversy surrounding the Israeli connection has raised concerns about the alignment of corporate interests with human rights principles. Many critics argue that using services owned by companies with Israeli ties, especially in the context of the current conflict, is morally problematic. "You don’t want Israel to have your information," one user tweeted, encapsulating the sentiment spreading across social media platforms.

Red Wolf surveillance system and its impact on Palestinians

Amnesty International has documented the use of an experimental facial recognition system named Red Wolf by Israeli authorities, which is being used to track and automate restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement. Deployed at military checkpoints in the city of Hebron, Red Wolf scans Palestinians' faces and adds them to vast surveillance databases without their consent. The system is part of Israel's broader surveillance network that Amnesty International says is intended to "entrench apartheid." In the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, facial recognition technology supports a dense network of CCTV cameras to monitor Palestinians. These tools are used to minimize their presence in strategic areas, contributing to a hostile and coercive environment. "Palestinians must now contend with the risk of being tracked by an algorithm, or barred from entering their own neighborhoods based on information stored in discriminatory surveillance databases," says Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

Global ban on facial recognition surveillance

Amnesty International has called for a global ban on the development, sale and use of facial recognition technology for surveillance purposes. The organization has documented human rights risks linked to facial recognition technology in India and the US, as part of its Ban the Scan campaign. The involvement of companies like Hikvision and TKH Security in supplying surveillance equipment to Israeli authorities has further complicated the ethical landscape surrounding these technologies.

The Call for Boycott: Privacy and Ethics in Tension

The calls for boycott of ExpressVPN extend beyond privacy concerns; they are rooted in ethical objections to supporting a company linked to Israel, where the ongoing conflict in Gaza is seen by many as a genocide. Social media users have shared lists of other VPNs owned by Israeli companies, cautioning against using any services that may benefit Israel. "The calls for boycotts of Israeli products reflect broader digital solidarity campaigns that have emerged during the Israeli genocide on Gaza," one commentator noted. The ethical implications extend to other products and services owned by Israeli companies, highlighting the complex interplay between digital privacy and geopolitical tensions. "Time to boycott ExpressVPN then. For both moral reasons and security reasons," one social media user wrote. Another echoed, "Anyone who wants to boycott Israeli companies, we should be pushing for a buycott. This is not just a war on the ground. We have a war online, too."

Navigating Privacy and Ethics in a Digital Age

The controversy over ExpressVPN highlights the tension between digital privacy and ethics, especially in a context of heightened geopolitical conflicts. The acquisition of a leading privacy service by an Israeli company with ties to surveillance technology and human rights abuses has sparked widespread debate. Privacy advocates and ethicists must now grapple with the question of whether entrusting personal data to companies associated with oppressive regimes is acceptable. The case of ExpressVPN underscores the need for deeper scrutiny of corporate ownership and the ethical implications of the technologies we use. As global tensions continue to escalate, it is crucial to ensure that our digital tools do not inadvertently support systems of control and discrimination. The ethical dilemmas posed by privacy technology in today’s geopolitical landscape are more urgent than ever. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net TimesofIsrael.com Amnesty.org
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