To borrow another example, we all know that using BitTorrent for peer-to-peer file sharing is legal. Both these actions are illegal in their own regard.

They exist as a way to stream pirated movies and stream YouTube songs respectively. In contrast, consider illegal software like Popcorn Time and YouTube Vanced. At least in the USA and other developed and free countries. Using software to hide your IP address and become near-anonymous does not fall under a legal lens. It’s because Tor is meant for anonymous communication, which is not explicitly illegal in many parts of the world. What Makes the Tor Network Legal?īefore I dive into the use cases, it’s important to understand how and why Tor is not illegal. So, let’s take some time today to understand the legality of Tor and a few of its use cases. But, as you can see, there’s a thin line between their legal and illegal applications. You can use them to safeguard your online privacy for free. To reiterate, the Tor Browser or any of Tor Project’s applications are 100% legal. In other words, using Tor for unlawful means will make your action illegal. However, if you use it for illegal content such as drugs, piracy, cybercrime, and financial fraud, it can get you in trouble. It’s legal software that you can safely download and install. Today, everyone from regular web users to journalists to activists to corporate professionals uses Tor to browse the web without revealing their web location or identity.īut this popularity brings up an obvious question: Is Tor illegal? This has boosted its popularity in recent years. Although its 100% anonymity claim is debatable, it is still one of the most effective ways to access the internet freely. Tor, or The Onion Router, is a free, community-driven software intended for anonymous web browsing.

Is tor still safe