The Tor Project has issued a critical call for help from the privacy community, urging volunteers to deploy 200 new WebTunnel bridges by the end of 2024.
This initiative aims to counteract increasing government censorship, particularly in Russia, where internet restrictions have intensified.
The Role of WebTunnel Bridges
WebTunnel bridges, introduced in March 2024, are designed to bypass censorship by blending Tor traffic with regular web traffic. By running over web servers with valid SSL/TLS certificates, WebTunnel bridges disguise Tor traffic as standard HTTPS activity, making it much harder for censors to detect and block.
Unlike older circumvention tools like obfs4, which can be identified and targeted, WebTunnel bridges operate “in plain sight,” offering greater resistance to aggressive blocking tactics.
Why the Push for More Bridges?
The Tor Project currently manages 143 WebTunnel bridges, but this is insufficient to meet growing censorship challenges, especially in heavily restricted regions like Russia. According to reports, Russian authorities have ramped up their censorship efforts, targeting Tor’s built-in circumvention tools, removing circumvention apps from app stores, and blocking popular hosting providers that many Tor bridges rely on.
“Recent reports from Tor users in Russia indicate an escalation in online censorship… As Roscomnadzor and internet service providers in Russia increase their blocking efforts, the need for more WebTunnel bridges has become urgent,” the Tor Project stated.
This crackdown is leaving users vulnerable, isolated from the free internet, and in urgent need of robust circumvention tools.
Volunteer Campaign: How to Participate
The Tor Project has launched a campaign running until March 10, 2025, asking volunteers to set up and maintain new WebTunnel bridges. To encourage participation, volunteers who deploy five or more bridges will receive a limited-edition Tor t-shirt.
Requirements for Setting Up WebTunnel Bridges:
- One WebTunnel bridge per IPv4 address (subdomains or distinct domains are acceptable).
- A valid SSL/TLS certificate and a self-hosted website.
- At least 1 TB/month bandwidth.
- Bridges must run for at least 12 months with near 24/7 uptime (reboots for updates allowed).
- Avoid hosting with Hetzner.
Volunteers can register their bridges by emailing [email protected] with the necessary details.
For a detailed setup guide, participants can refer to the official documentation provided by the Tor Project.
Why This Matters
The ability to bypass censorship is critical for internet freedom in regions where access to information is tightly controlled. By deploying more WebTunnel bridges, the Tor Project hopes to strengthen its network and ensure users in censored regions can maintain a connection to the open web.
This effort underscores the ongoing global fight for internet freedom and privacy amidst increasing government efforts to control access to information.
