0534568523ca00a56fe0186869016d96efc7e1b4
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

1) <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN"
2) "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

3) 
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

4) <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en">
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

5) <head>
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

6)  <title>Legal FAQ for Tor Server Operators</title>
7)  <meta name="Author" content="EFF" />
8)  <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" />
9)  <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../stylesheet.css" />
10)  <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/favicon.ico" />
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

11) </head>
12) <body>
13) 
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

14) <div class="center">
15) 
16) <!-- TITLE BAR & NAVIGATION -->
17) <div class="banner">
18) <table class="table-banner" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
19) <tr>
20) <td class="spacer">
21) <a href="http://tor.eff.org/"><img src="../images/spacer.png"
22) width="110" height="79" alt="Tor logo" /></a>
23) </td>
24) <td class="links" valign="top">
25)       <a href="../index.html">Home</a>  |
26)       <a href="../howitworks.html">How It Works</a>  |
27)       <a href="../download.html">Download</a>  |
28)       <a href="../documentation.html">Docs</a>  |
29)       <a href="../users.html">Users</a>  |
30)       <a href="../faq.html">FAQ</a>  |
31)       <a href="../contribute.html">Contribute</a>  |
32)       <a href="../developers.html">Developers</a>  |
33)       <a href="../research.html">Research</a>  |
34)       <a href="../people.html">People</a>
35) </td>
36) </tr>
37) </table>
38) </div>
39) <!-- END TITLE BAR & NAVIGATION -->
40) 
41) <div class="main-column">
42) 
43) <!-- PUT CONTENT AFTER THIS TAG -->
44) 
45) <h2>Legal FAQ for Tor Server Operators</h2>
46) <hr />
Roger Dingledine commit tweaks to the tor le...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

47) <p>FAQ written by the Electronic Frontier
48) Foundation (<a href="http://www.eff.org/">EFF</a>). Last updated 23 Dec 2004.</p>
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

49) 
50) <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> This FAQ is for informational purposes only
51) and does not constitute legal advice.  EFF has not analyzed any
Roger Dingledine commit tweaks to the tor le...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

52) particular factual situation or laws in drafting this FAQ. Our aim is
53) to provide a general description of the legal issues surrounding
54) Tor.  Different factual situations and different legal jurisdictions will
55) result in different answers to a number of questions.  Therefore, please
56) do not act on this information alone; if you have any
57) specific legal problems, issues, or questions, seek a complete review of
58) your situation with a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.
59) </p>
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

60) 
61) <p>Also, if you received this document from anywhere besides <a
Roger Dingledine update the url that the tor...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

62) href="http://tor.eff.org/eff/tor-legal-faq.html">http://tor.eff.org/eff/tor-legal-faq.html</a>,
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

63) it may be out of date. Follow the link to get the latest version.</p>
64) 
Roger Dingledine separate the notice at the...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

65) <hr />
66) 
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

67) <h2>Has anyone ever been sued for running Tor?</h2>
68) 
Roger Dingledine tighten some of the tor-leg...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

69) <p><strong>No.</strong> Further, we believe that running a Tor node,
70) including a Tor exit node that allows people to anonymously send and
71) receive traffic, is lawful under U.S. law.</p>
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

72) 
73) 
74) <h2>Should I use Tor, or encourage the use of Tor, for illegal purposes
75) such as spamming, harassment, distribution of child porn, or copyright
76) infringement?</h2>
77) 
78) <p><strong>No.</strong> Tor has been developed to be a tool for free
Roger Dingledine commit tweaks to the tor le...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

79) speech, privacy, and human rights.  It is not a tool designed or intended
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

80) to be used to break the law, either by Tor users or Tor server
81) operators.</p>
82) 
83) <p>We further recommend that you not keep any potentially illegal files
Roger Dingledine commit tweaks to the tor le...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

84) on the same machine you use for Tor, nor use that machine for any illegal
85) purpose.  Although no Tor server has ever been seized, nor any server
86) operator subpoenaed, the future possibility cannot be ruled out. If that
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

87) happens, you will want your machine to be clean.</p>
88) 
89) 
90) <h2>Can EFF promise that I won&rsquo;t get in trouble for running a Tor
91) server?</h2>
92) 
93) <p><strong>No.</strong> All new technologies create legal uncertainties,
Roger Dingledine commit tweaks to the tor le...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

94) and Tor is no exception to the rule. Presently, no court has ever considered any
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

95) case involving the Tor technology, and we therefore cannot guarantee
96) that you will never face any legal liability as a result of running a
Roger Dingledine tighten some of the tor-leg...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

97) Tor server. However, we believe so strongly that you shouldn't be liable
98) for traffic that passes through your Tor server that we're running our
99) own Tor server.
100) </p>
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

101) 
102) 
103) <h2>Will EFF represent me if I get in trouble for running a Tor
104) server?</h2>
105) 
106) <p><strong>Maybe.</strong> While EFF cannot promise legal representation
107) of all Tor server operators, it will assist server operators in
108) assessing the situation and will try to locate qualified legal counsel
109) when necessary.  Inquiries to EFF for the purpose of securing legal
110) representation or referrals should be directed to staff attorney Kevin
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

111) Bankston (US +1 (415) 436-9333 x 126). Such inquiries will be kept
112) confidential subject to the limits of the attorney/client privilege.
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

113) Note that although EFF cannot practice law outside of the U.S., it will
114) still try to assist non-U.S. server operators in finding local
115) representation.</p>
116) 
117) 
118) <h2>Should I contact the Tor developers when I have legal questions
119) about Tor or to inform them if I suspect Tor is being used for illegal
120) purposes?</h2>
121) 
122) <p><strong>No.</strong> Tor&rsquo;s core developers, Roger Dingledine
123) and Nick Mathewson, are available to answer technical questions, but
124) they are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice.  Nor do they have any
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

125) ability to prevent illegal activity that may occur through Tor servers.
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

126) Furthermore, your communications with Tor&rsquo;s core developers are
127) not protected by any legal privilege, so law enforcement or civil
128) litigants could subpoena and obtain any information you give to
129) them.</p>
130) 
131) 
132) <h2>If I receive a request from law enforcement or anyone else for my
133) Tor server&rsquo;s logs, what should I do?</h2>
134) 
135) <p><strong>Educate them about Tor.</strong> In most instances, properly
136) configured Tor servers will have no useful data for inquiring parties,
137) and you should feel free to educate them on this point.  To the extent
138) you do maintain logs, however, you should not disclose them to any third
139) party without first consulting a lawyer.  In the U.S., such a disclosure
140) may violate the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and server
141) operators outside of the U.S. may be subject to similar data protection
142) laws.</p>
143) 
144) <p>You may receive legal inquiries where you are prohibited by law from
145) telling anyone about the request.  We believe that, at least in the
146) U.S., such gag orders do not prevent you from talking to a lawyer,
147) including calling a lawyer to find representation.  Inquiries to EFF for
148) the purpose of securing legal representation should be directed to staff
Roger Dingledine fix a typo in the legal faq

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

149) attorney Kevin Bankston (US +1 (415) 436-9333 x126). Such inquiries
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

150) will be kept confidential subject to the limits of the attorney/client
151) privilege.</p>
152) 
153) <p>EFF is currently working on informational materials to help you
154) respond to the most likely types of legal requests or notices, so watch
155) this space.</p>
156) 
157) 
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

158) <h2>Should I snoop on the plaintext that exits through my Tor
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

159) server?</h2>
160) 
161) <p><strong>No.</strong> You are technically capable of monitoring or
Roger Dingledine commit tweaks to the tor le...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

162) logging plaintext that exits your node if you modify the Tor source
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

163) code or install additional software to enable such snooping.  However,
164) Tor server operators in the U.S. can create legal and possibly even
165) criminal liability for themselves under state or federal wiretap laws if
166) they affirmatively monitor, log, or disclose Tor users&rsquo;
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

167) communications, while non-U.S. operators may be subject to similar laws.
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

168) Do not examine the contents of anyone&rsquo;s communications without
169) first talking to a lawyer.</p>
170) 
171) 
172) <h2>Do Tor&rsquo;s core developers make any promises about the
173) trustworthiness or reliability of Tor servers that are listed in their
174) directory?</h2>
175) 
176) <p><strong>No.</strong> Although the developers attempt to verify that
177) Tor servers listed in the directory the core developers maintain are
178) stable and have adequate bandwidth, neither they nor EFF can guarantee
179) the personal trustworthiness or reliability of the individuals who run
180) those servers.  Tor&rsquo;s core developers further reserve the right to
181) refuse a Tor server operator&rsquo;s request to be listed in their
182) directory or to remove any server from their directory for any
183) reason.</p>
184) 
185) 
186) <h2>Is the Tor software subject to any license terms?</h2>
187) 
188) <p><strong>Yes.</strong> The Tor license is included in the software
189) download and reproduced below:</p>
190) 
191) <p>Copyright (c) 2001-2004, Roger Dingledine<br />
Roger Dingledine commit tweaks to the tor le...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

192) Copyright (c) 2004-2005, Roger Dingledine, Nick Mathewson</p>
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

193) 
194) <p>Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
195) modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
196) met:</p>
197) 
198) <ul>
199) 
200) <li>Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
201) notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.</li>
202) 
203) <li>Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
204) notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
205) documentation and/or other materials provided with the
206) distribution.</li>
207) 
208) <li>Neither the names of the copyright owners nor the names of its
209) contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
210) this software without specific prior written permission.</li>
211) 
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

212) </ul>
213) 
Chris Palmer First commit of the EFF Tor...

Chris Palmer authored 19 years ago

214) <p>THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
215) &ldquo;AS IS&rdquo; AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING,
216) BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
217) FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
218) COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
219) INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
220) NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
221) USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
222) ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
223) (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
224) THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.</p>
225) 
Roger Dingledine wrap the tor-legal-faq in o...

Roger Dingledine authored 19 years ago

226) </div><!-- #main -->
227) </div>