TOR–The Onion Router

Arun Kumar Gond

Hidden deep in the internet is a world where privacy is not easy–it is something people must fight for. “TOR: From the Dark Web to the Future of Privacy” by Ben Collier [The MIT Press, 2024, 242 p., $40.00, ISBN: 978-0262548182] takes readers into this secret world, where people use special tools to stay safe and protect their freedom online. The book starts on a cold, foggy train in Britain. The author tries to open the Tor (The Onion Router) Project website but finds that it is blocked. When he uses the Tor browser, the website finally opens. This moment shows how Tor helps people avoid internet control and keep their online life private. “TOR” (The Onion Router) works like an onion, with many layers. It sends information through different computers so that no one can see the process. The book shows that privacy is not just a tool- it is a right.

Tor started in the early 2000s with help from the US Navy. It was made to protect people’s privacy online. Interestingly, the same US government that funded Tor also ran big surveillance programmes around the world. The writer shows that Tor is not just part of the “dark web,” but also helps good causes like political protest, research, journalism, and protecting human rights. When Russia blocked the BBC, the BBC and Twitter used Tor to share their content, helping people avoid censorship. The media often shows the dark web as a scary place full of crime, drugs, and hackers. Stories and films add to this image. People often say Tor is good for activists and bad when used by criminals. But the writer says this is too simple. Tor is more than a tool- it changes how power works online. It builds a new system where people can speak freely and safely.

In today’s digital world, privacy is not just about hiding one’s personal information. It is also about who has power and control over one’s online life. The author says that, just like in real life where some places are more private than others (like one’s home or a market), the internet also has places where some things are more private and others are not. For example, a teenage girl may sit in her room and think she is in a private space. But when she uses the internet, many people and systems can track her activity, like her internet provider (ISP), servers, and websites. Even if they can’t read her messages, they know who she talked to and when. Tor browser helps protect her better. It hides her steps, blocks trackers and cookies, and makes her online life more private. Privacy is also about freedom- mental, emotional, social, and political. Tools like Tor help protect that freedom.

The author has studied the history of the Internet and Tor deeply. He explains that the internet was first created by the US military and government. Their goal was to make a network that would still work even if parts of it were damaged. It was made for military and school use. At that time, people did not think much about personal privacy. But another group of people, like hackers and tech experts, wanted a free and open internet. They believed privacy and freedom were very important. These people became part of a movement that wanted to fight control by big governments and companies. Groups like open-source developers, cypherpunks, and underground hackers helped shape the early internet. Tor’s story began in the mid-1990s during the “Crypto Wars.” At the US Naval Research Lab, three researchers- David Gold Schlag, Mike Reed, and Paul Syverson- worked on a way to hide who was sending and receiving internet data. The US Navy needed this to send secret information safely. One example they gave was about the Pentagon ordering pizzas at night before a war. A journalist noticed this and guessed something big was happening. This showed how simple data can reveal secrets. To solve this, the researchers created “Onion Routing.” It wraps messages in many layers of encryption. Each layer hides more information. This system became Tor, which helps people stay private and safe online.

In the early 2000s, the internet was changing. At first, people had big dreams about the internet being free and open for everyone. But soon, governments and big companies started trying to control it. They worked together to track users and collect data. This worried some computer experts, so they started projects to protect people’s privacy online. Two students from MIT, Roger Dingledine and Nick Mathewson, worked on one of these projects. They wanted to build an internet where users could stay private and safe from spying. They first worked on a project called “Free Haven,” which was about storing information safely. Then they created “Mix Minion,” a private email system. Later, they worked with the US Navy to create something called Onion Routing. This idea became the start of Tor. Tor is a special tool that hides one’s identity online. In Tor; data goes through many layers, like an onion. This makes it hard for anyone to track. In 2002, a group of developers joined together to build Tor. They talked about two kinds of users: people who want everyday privacy, and people who need strong protection- like journalists or activists. The team worked hard to make Tor safe but also easy to use. They tested different problems, like fake data attacks or slow networks. In the end, they built a system that gives people freedom and privacy on the internet. Tor became a way to use the internet without being watched all the time.

The Tor network needed more than just a technical design and code. It required a strong global infrastructure and dedicated volunteers to keep it running. These volunteers, called “relay operators,” helped power the network with their computers and internet bandwidth. According to Susan Leigh Star, the hidden work behind any infrastructure is often invisible. In Tor’s case, this invisible work came from the people who maintained it. Tor’s network was decentralised, with no central control, yet it remained stable. It created a new way of thinking about privacy, providing security for users through technology.

The Tor project started as more than just a technical tool; it slowly turned into an idea and social movement. As the internet spread across the world, Tor began to grow and connect with different groups, such as hackers, policymakers, lawyers, and digital rights activists. In the beginning, Tor’s co-founder, Roger Dingledine, talked about its possibilities at technical conferences. In 2004, Tor received support from the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a group focused on protecting digital rights. This support helped Tor grow stronger, both technically and ideologically. However, as Tor expanded, security concerns arose. The team worried that intelligence agencies or law enforcement might try to weaken the system. But since Tor depended on volunteer contributors, they couldn’t stop new people from joining. The solution was “open source” and “radical transparency,” meaning the code was public, anyone could contribute, and the community kept it under watch. This transparency made Tor a strong community that thrived on shared ideas and effort. As Tor gained popularity, some people became critical. Media reports linked Tor to crime, especially when small technical flaws appeared.

In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Tor started to change from just a technical tool to part of political and activist movements. Initially, Tor was neutral, but as more developers and activist groups joined, it became linked to global efforts for digital democracy. Privacy technology, like Tor, began to be seen as a tool for fighting political control and censorship. New developers, such as Jacob Appelbaum and Isis Lovecrue; made Tor more political. They connected Tor’s mission with human rights, journalism, and social movements. This shift turned Tor into more than just a tool- it became part of a larger social movement. However, this caused internal disagreements. Some believed Tor should stay neutral, while others felt that technology itself is political. In 2016, Tor created the “Tor Social Contract” to focus on human rights, free software, and social justice. The project also started improving its technology to fight censorship more directly. Even with challenges like financial problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tor continued to grow and adapt, making it easier for everyday people to use. However, its future is uncertain, as it faces new challenges, including divisions over cryptocurrency and its role in global politics.

[The author is deeply grateful to his research supervisor, Dr. Keyoor, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Allahabad, for his constant support and guidance.]
[Arun Kumar Gond, Research Scholar, Department of Sociology, University of Allahabad, India. Email: arungond413@gmail.com]

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Frontier
Vol 57, No. 48, May 25 - 31, 2025