Compass methodology

How the privacy map is built

A transparent research index for comparison and practical triage. It is evidence-led guidance, not a definitive legal classification.

Composite score

Map visualization and comparative triage, not legal advice.

0-100; higher means a more privacy-respecting/open environment according to imported sources and proxies.

Digital rightsFreedom on the Net where available, else Freedom in the World proxy25%
Civil libertiesFreedom in the World20%
Press speechRSF World Press Freedom Index 202615%
Data protectionGDPR/EEA, EU adequacy, DLA/CNIL/IAPP/UNCTAD coverage15%
Censorship resilience100 - censorship risk10%
Crypto privacy tool freedom100 - crypto/privacy-tool risk10%
Kyc proportionality100 - KYC/AML pressure5%

Weights are renormalized over available components. Missing values remain visible in component metadata.

Country relevance rules

Declarative rules connect a country signal to practical Compass paths. Percentile and status thresholds are explainable and source-linked.

Internet shutdown signals

high

Shutdown status contributes to Access-blocked-websites.

Source ID: accessnow_keepiton_2025

VPN/Tor restrictions reported

elevated

Vpn tor risk contributes to Access-blocked-websites.

Source ID: gpd_encryption_map

Elevated surveillance pressure

high

Surveillance risk contributes to Choose-secure-messenger.

Source ID: freedom_house_fitw_2026

High censorship risk

elevated

Censorship risk contributes to Choose-secure-messenger.

Source ID: freedom_house_fotn_2025

Privacy-coin restrictions

elevated

Privacy coin risk contributes to Receive-donations-privately.

Source ID: atlantic_council_crypto_tracker

Strong KYC/AML pressure

high

Kyc aml status contributes to Separate-crypto-wallets.

Source ID: fatf_virtual_assets_2025

Crypto privacy-tool restrictions

elevated

Crypto status contributes to Separate-crypto-wallets.

Source ID: atlantic_council_crypto_tracker

Weak press freedom

high

Press freedom contributes to Publish-evidence-safely.

Source ID: rsf_world_press_freedom_index_2026

Elevated surveillance pressure

elevated

Surveillance risk contributes to Publish-evidence-safely.

Source ID: freedom_house_fitw_2026

Internet shutdown signals

high

Shutdown status contributes to Prepare-phone-protest.

Source ID: accessnow_keepiton_2025

Elevated surveillance pressure

high

Surveillance risk contributes to Prepare-phone-protest.

Source ID: freedom_house_fitw_2026

Weak press freedom

elevated

Press freedom contributes to Prepare-phone-protest.

Source ID: rsf_world_press_freedom_index_2026

Privacy-tooling restrictions

elevated

Crypto status contributes to Choose-private-infra.

Source ID: atlantic_council_crypto_tracker

High censorship risk

elevated

Censorship risk contributes to Choose-private-infra.

Source ID: freedom_house_fotn_2025

Elevated surveillance pressure

elevated

Surveillance risk contributes to Browse-with-less-tracking.

Source ID: freedom_house_fitw_2026

Weak data-protection rules

elevated

Data protection status contributes to Browse-with-less-tracking.

Source ID: dla_piper_dplw_2026

Elevated surveillance pressure

high

Surveillance risk contributes to Secure-email-and-files.

Source ID: freedom_house_fitw_2026

Weak data-protection rules

elevated

Data protection status contributes to Secure-email-and-files.

Source ID: dla_piper_dplw_2026

Editorial policy

0-100; higher means more friction/risk. Risk scores are deliberately conservative seeds until verified by local sources.
Suggest a correction
  • Never present seed values as definitive law.
  • Show practical guidance first; sources/confidence in Sources tab.
  • Every correction should include source_id or source URL.
  • Avoid copying proprietary legal text into YAML.

Source registry

Public datasets and research pointers currently registered by the map.

Freedom in the World 2026 country and territory scores

Freedom House · ngo-index

Open source

Used for: civil liberties proxy, authoritarian risk inverse, overall privacy composite.

Score is 0-100; higher is freer. Baseline profiles imported these scores for covered countries/territories.

Freedom on the Net 2025

Freedom House · ngo-index

Open source

Used for: digital rights, censorship risk, overall privacy composite.

Covers 72 countries and 89% of internet users; higher score is freer.

World Press Freedom Index 2026

Reporters Without Borders / RSF; CSV mirrored by DW data repo · ngo-index

Open source

Used for: press/speech layer, legal context subscore, safety subscore, overall privacy composite.

Score 0-100; higher is better. Includes political/economic/legal/social/safety subindices.

High-risk jurisdictions subject to a call for action, 19 June 2026

FATF · official

Open source

Used for: KYC/AML pressure, crypto/VASP friction.

Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, 19 June 2026

FATF · official

Open source

Used for: KYC/AML pressure, AML watchlist layer.

Targeted Update on Implementation of FATF Standards on Virtual Assets and VASPs

FATF · official

Open source

Used for: global VASP/KYC pressure, Travel Rule context.

EU legal framework of data protection / GDPR

European Commission · official

Open source

Used for: data protection strength.

EU adequacy decisions

European Commission · official

Open source

Used for: data protection strength, cross-border data transfer signal.

Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA)

European Commission / ESMA · official

Open source

Used for: EU crypto regulatory status, KYC pressure.

Data Protection Laws of the World

DLA Piper · legal-research

Open source

Used for: data-protection profile coverage.

Do not copy proprietary legal text. Use as pointer/profile coverage unless licensed.

World map of data protection levels

CNIL · official/regulator

Open source

Used for: data-protection research follow-up.

Global privacy law and DPA directory

IAPP · professional-research

Open source

Used for: data-protection law coverage follow-up.

Global Cyberlaw Tracker

UNCTAD · un

Open source

Used for: data-protection and cyberlaw coverage follow-up.

OONI Explorer

Open Observatory of Network Interference · measurement

Open source

Used for: internet censorship measurements, country deep-dive evidence.

World map of encryption laws and policies

Global Partners Digital · ngo-research

Open source

Used for: encryption/key-disclosure policy research.

KeepItOn 2025 internet shutdown report / dataset

Access Now · ngo-research

Open source

Used for: internet shutdown risk.

Internet Society Pulse shutdown tracker

Internet Society · measurement/research

Open source

Used for: shutdown context.

Cryptocurrency Regulation Tracker

Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center · research

Open source

Used for: crypto legal status follow-up.

CBDC Tracker

Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center · research

Open source

Used for: CBDC status.

VPN/Tor/circumvention risk seed list

Web3Privacy research seed · internal-seed

Used for: triage only.

Replace with local legal and censorship-measurement evidence before making definitive claims.

Crypto restriction risk seed list

Web3Privacy research seed · internal-seed

Used for: triage only.

Replace with official/current legal sources.

V-Dem Dataset v16 / Democracy Report 2026

V-Dem Institute · academic-index

Open source

Used for: future democracy/rule-of-law import.

World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2025

World Justice Project · ngo-index

Open source

Used for: future rule-of-law layer.

Global Cybersecurity Index 2024

International Telecommunication Union · un-index

Open source

Used for: future cybersecurity capacity layer.

ISO 3166-1 country and territory codes via pycountry

ISO / pycountry package · standard

Open source

Used for: country identifiers, country names.

Countries and Territories scores: Freedom in the World and Freedom on the Net

Freedom House · ngo-index

Open source

Used for: baseline imported Freedom House scores.

Legacy source id retained from v0.1 profiles.

Official EU country list

European Union · official

Open source

Used for: EU membership, GDPR/EEA and MiCA context.

FATF black and grey lists, June 2026

FATF · official

Open source

Used for: legacy AML watchlist source id.

Global VPN restrictions chart

Surfshark Research · commercial-research

Open source

Used for: legacy VPN restriction seed.

Older seed only; verify with local/official sources before hard claims.