Is PIA owned by Israel?

Is PIA Owned by Israel?

Private Internet Access, commonly known as PIA, has drawn attention over the years not just for its strong stance on privacy, but also for questions surrounding its ownership. The short answer? Yes, PIA is now under the umbrella of a company with strong Israeli ties.

In November 2019, PIA was acquired by Kape Technologies, a digital privacy company incorporated in the UK but founded by Israeli entrepreneur Teddy Sagi. Kape, listed on the London Stock Exchange, describes itself as a leader in online privacy and security — a mission that aligns with PIA’s brand. However, the Israeli roots of its founder and significant shareholder base have led some to label Kape as a British-Israeli firm, sparking debate in privacy circles.

This acquisition wasn’t the first controversy linked to PIA’s leadership. In 2018, Mark Karpelès, the former CEO of the collapsed Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, was appointed Chief Technology Officer of London Trust Media — PIA’s parent company at the time. Karpelès had been convicted in Japan for falsifying data to inflate Mt. Gox’s accounts, a move that shook trust among users. Though he served his sentence and maintained his technical expertise, his involvement raised eyebrows.

Since the Kape acquisition, PIA has continued to operate under a no-logs policy and remains popular among users seeking robust encryption and server coverage. Still, the shift in ownership has prompted scrutiny about where loyalties lie — especially given Kape’s portfolio, which includes other major VPNs like CyberGhost and ZenMate.

For users, the bigger picture remains clear: while PIA is legally based in the US and owned by a UK-registered company, its strategic direction is significantly influenced by interests rooted in Israel. Whether that affects its privacy promises is still a matter of debate — but transparency, as always, is key.