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Everything You Need to Know About ExpressVPN’s Israeli Ownership

Everything You Need to Know About ExpressVPN’s Israeli Ownership

ExpressVPN is one of the biggest VPNs in the world. Millions of people use it to hide their online activity, stay safe, and protect their privacy. But there is a major problem. ExpressVPN is owned by an Israeli-linked company with deep ties to the Israeli military and the surveillance industry.

That means when you use ExpressVPN, your money could be helping fund the same system of occupation and violence that is starving and bombing Palestinians in Gaza.

Here is everything you need to know.

🕵️ Who Really Owns ExpressVPN?

In 2021, ExpressVPN was bought for $936 million by Kape Technologies, a London-based company with strong Israeli roots.

Kape is not a small player in the market. It is owned by Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi, one of the richest men in Israel. Kape has also bought CyberGhost, Private Internet Access, and ZenMate, making it one of the largest VPN empires in the world.

So when you think you are choosing between different VPNs, you may actually just be choosing between products controlled by the same Israeli company.

💰 Who Is Teddy Sagi?

Teddy Sagi is not just another businessman. His history shows why people are concerned:

  • Criminal Record: In 1996, Sagi was convicted of fraud and bribery in Israel and served time in prison.
  • Wealth: He built his fortune in gambling and tech, and is now worth billions.
  • Military Donations: In 2019, Sagi gave $3 million for scholarships for discharged IDF soldiers. In 2023, during Israel’s war on Gaza, he donated 1 million shekels to transport soldiers to the front lines.

The takeaway is clear. The man who profits from ExpressVPN directly funds the Israeli military.

🔍 Kape’s Shady Past

Kape Technologies was once called Crossrider. Under that name, it was notorious for spreading adware and malware that hijacked people’s computers.

When its reputation became too toxic, Crossrider rebranded as Kape and started buying privacy tools. The same company that once spread malware now controls some of the world’s largest VPNs.

Kape’s leadership also raises red flags:

  • Co-founder Koby Menachemi served in Unit 8200, Israel’s cyber-intelligence agency known for hacking and spying.
  • CEO Ido Erlichman served in the IDF’s Duvdevan Unit, a special operations squad active in occupied Palestine.

Kape is not a neutral privacy company. It is deeply tied to Israel’s surveillance ecosystem.

⚠️ Why Users Are Worried

People use VPNs to stay safe from government spying, corporate tracking, and censorship. But ExpressVPN’s ownership raises two major issues:

Surveillance Risks
Israel has a long history of using spyware and surveillance against civilians. Pegasus spyware from Israeli firm NSO was used to hack journalists, activists, and even heads of state. Facial recognition systems like “Red Wolf” track Palestinians at checkpoints. With Kape in charge, experts warn that VPNs could be pressured to cooperate with surveillance.

Ethical Concerns
Every dollar spent on ExpressVPN enriches Teddy Sagi and Kape. And Sagi has already shown he uses his wealth to support the IDF. For many people, this means paying for ExpressVPN is indirectly funding war crimes.

📱 Social Media Backlash

Since these ties became widely known, boycott calls have exploded online:

  • “Do yourself a favor and delete ExpressVPN. You don’t want Israel to have your information.”
  • “ExpressVPN supports genocide. Boycott genocide.”
  • “Most VPNs are owned by Israelis. Be careful out there. Do your research.”

The hashtag #BoycottExpressVPN has been trending across activist spaces. Users are cancelling subscriptions and warning others which VPNs to avoid.

🚫 Other VPNs With Israeli Ties

ExpressVPN is not alone. Kape owns several other VPNs:

  • CyberGhost
  • Private Internet Access (PIA)
  • ZenMate
  • Intego VPN (bundled with antivirus software)

Another VPN, HolaVPN, is based in Israel and was exposed for selling users’ bandwidth to third parties.

Together, these VPNs reach tens of millions of people worldwide.

✅ Alternatives You Can Trust

If you want true privacy and ethical security, consider VPNs not tied to Israeli companies:

  • ProtonVPN (Switzerland)
  • Mullvad (Sweden)
  • IVPN (Gibraltar)
  • BuycatVPN – Built by the Boycat community, with zero-logs, ethical standards, and no ties to surveillance or war.

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📚 Sources

  • Times of Israel, “Kape acquires ExpressVPN for $936M”
  • Middle East Eye, “Outcry over ExpressVPN’s Israeli ownership” (2025)
  • Jerusalem Post, “Teddy Sagi donates to IDF soldiers”
  • MintPress News, “Israeli intelligence veterans dominate VPN industry”
  • HackRead, “Kape (formerly Crossrider) spread malware before pivoting to VPNs”
  • Amnesty International, “Automated Apartheid: Facial recognition in the occupied territories”
  • Vice News / Reuters, “ExpressVPN CIO fined for illegal hacking with UAE Project Raven”