Warrant canaries, explained.

The idea

In some countries an operator can be forced to hand over data and forbidden to say so. A warrant canary gets around the gag by saying "we have not received X" on a schedule. If the statement stops or changes, readers can infer something happened.

How to check one

1. Look for the date and see that it is current.
2. Check for a recent news headline or block hash proving the statement was not pre-written.
3. Verify the PGP signature against the key fingerprint published elsewhere.
4. Compare the covered categories with last time. Removed wording is a signal.

Limits

• A missed update can be an honest mistake.
• A court could order an operator to keep updating, or not to stop.
• A canary covers only what it says it covers.

AnonVPS's canary

See the current status on the canary page.

A short history

Warrant canaries emerged as a way for operators to signal the absence of secret orders without acknowledging any. Their legal status is untested in many places, so treat them as a signal, not proof.

Reading a canary critically

• Look for a signature, a recent date and specific wording.
• Notice what it does not cover.
• Compare against the operator's other published documents.

Common questions