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eff/en/tor-legal-faq.wml   4) #include "head.wmi" TITLE="Legal FAQ for Tor Server Operators"
eff/en/tor-legal-faq.wml   5) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html     6) <div class="main-column">
eff/tor-legal-faq.html     7) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html     8) <!-- PUT CONTENT AFTER THIS TAG -->
eff/tor-legal-faq.html     9) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    10) <h2>Legal FAQ for Tor Server Operators</h2>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    11) <hr />

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    12) <p>FAQ written by the Electronic Frontier

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    13) Foundation (<a href="http://www.eff.org/">EFF</a>). Last updated 25 Apr 2005.</p>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    14) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    15) <p><strong>NOTE:</strong> This FAQ is for informational purposes only
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    16) and does not constitute legal advice.  EFF has not analyzed any

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    17) particular factual situation or laws in drafting this FAQ. Our aim is
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    18) to provide a general description of the legal issues surrounding
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    19) Tor.  Different factual situations and different legal jurisdictions will
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    20) result in different answers to a number of questions.  Therefore, please
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    21) do not act on this information alone; if you have any
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    22) specific legal problems, issues, or questions, seek a complete review of
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    23) your situation with a lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    24) </p>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    25) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    26) <p>Also, if you received this document from anywhere besides <a

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    27) href="http://tor.eff.org/eff/tor-legal-faq.html">http://tor.eff.org/eff/tor-legal-faq.html</a>,

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    28) it may be out of date. Follow the link to get the latest version.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    29) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    30) <hr />
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    31) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    32) <a id="Lawsuits"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    33) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#Lawsuits">Has anyone ever been sued for running Tor?
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    34) </a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    35) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    36) <p><strong>No.</strong> Further, we believe that running a Tor node,
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    37) including a Tor exit node that allows people to anonymously send and
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    38) receive traffic, is lawful under U.S. law.</p>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    39) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    40) <a id="IllegalPurposes"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    41) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#IllegalPurposes">Should I use Tor,
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    42) or encourage the use of Tor, for illegal purposes

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    43) such as spamming, harassment, distribution of child porn, or copyright

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    44) infringement?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    45) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    46) <p><strong>No.</strong> Tor has been developed to be a tool for free

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    47) speech, privacy, and human rights.  It is not a tool designed or intended

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    48) to be used to break the law, either by Tor users or Tor server
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    49) operators.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    50) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    51) <p>We further recommend that you not keep any potentially illegal files

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    52) on the same machine you use for Tor, nor use that machine for any illegal
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    53) purpose.  Although no Tor server has ever been seized, nor any server

eff/en/tor-legal-faq.wml  54) operator sued, the future possibility cannot be ruled out. If that

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    55) happens, you will want your machine to be clean.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    56) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    57) <a id="Promise"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    58) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#Promise">Can EFF promise that I won't get
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    59) in trouble for running a Tor server?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    60) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    61) <p><strong>No.</strong> All new technologies create legal uncertainties,

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    62) and Tor is no exception to the rule. Presently, no court has ever considered any

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    63) case involving the Tor technology, and we therefore cannot guarantee
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    64) that you will never face any legal liability as a result of running a

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    65) Tor server. However, EFF believes so strongly that those running Tor
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    66) servers shouldn't be liable for traffic that passes through the server
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    67) that we're running our own Tor server.

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    68) </p>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    69) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    70) <a id="Represent"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    71) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#Represent">Will EFF represent me if I get

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    72) in trouble for running a Tor server?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    73) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    74) <p><strong>Maybe.</strong> While EFF cannot promise legal representation
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    75) of all Tor server operators, it will assist server operators in
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    76) assessing the situation and will try to locate qualified legal counsel
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    77) when necessary.  Inquiries to EFF for the purpose of securing legal
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    78) representation or referrals should be directed to staff attorney Kevin

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    79) Bankston (bankston at eff.org or US +1 (415) 436-9333 x 126). Such
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    80) inquiries will be kept

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    81) confidential subject to the limits of the attorney/client privilege.

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    82) Note that although EFF cannot practice law outside of the U.S., it will
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    83) still try to assist non-U.S. server operators in finding local
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    84) representation.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    85) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    86) <a id="DevelopersAreNotLawyers"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    87) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#DevelopersAreNotLawyers">Should I contact
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    88) the Tor developers when I have legal questions about Tor or to inform
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    89) them if I suspect Tor is being used for illegal purposes?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    90) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    91) <p><strong>No.</strong> Tor's core developers, Roger Dingledine

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    92) and Nick Mathewson, are available to answer technical questions, but
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    93) they are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice.  Nor do they have any

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    94) ability to prevent illegal activity that may occur through Tor servers.

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    95) Furthermore, your communications with Tor's core developers are

eff/tor-legal-faq.html    96) not protected by any legal privilege, so law enforcement or civil
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    97) litigants could subpoena and obtain any information you give to
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    98) them.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html    99) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   100) <a id="RequestForLogs"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   101) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#RequestForLogs">If I receive a request from
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   102) law enforcement or anyone else for my Tor server's logs, what should
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   103) I do?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   104) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   105) <p><strong>Educate them about Tor.</strong> In most instances, properly
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   106) configured Tor servers will have no useful data for inquiring parties,
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   107) and you should feel free to educate them on this point.  To the extent
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   108) you do maintain logs, however, you should not disclose them to any third
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   109) party without first consulting a lawyer.  In the U.S., such a disclosure
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   110) may violate the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, and server
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   111) operators outside of the U.S. may be subject to similar data protection
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   112) laws.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   113) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   114) <p>You may receive legal inquiries where you are prohibited by law from
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   115) telling anyone about the request.  We believe that, at least in the
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   116) U.S., such gag orders do not prevent you from talking to a lawyer,
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   117) including calling a lawyer to find representation.  Inquiries to EFF for
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   118) the purpose of securing legal representation should be directed to staff

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   119) attorney Kevin Bankston (bankston at eff.org or US +1 (415) 436-9333
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   120) x126). Such inquiries

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   121) will be kept confidential subject to the limits of the attorney/client
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   122) privilege.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   123) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   124) <p>EFF is currently working on informational materials to help you
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   125) respond to the most likely types of legal requests or notices, so watch
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   126) this space.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   127) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   128) <a id="DMCA"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   129) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#DMCA">My ISP/University/etc just sent me
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   130) a DMCA notice. What should I do?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   131) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   132) <p>The EFF has written a <a

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   133) href="tor-dmca-response.html">short template</a>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   134) to help you write a response to your ISP/University/etc, to let them
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   135) know about the details of DMCA safe harbor, and how Tor fits in. Note

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   136) that this only refers to a U.S. jurisdiction.</p>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   137) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   138) <p>If you like, you should consider submitting a copy of your notice
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   139) to <a href="http://www.chillingeffects.org/">Chilling Effects</a>. This
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   140) will help us recognize trends and issues that the lawyers might want to

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   141) focus on. Chilling Effects encourages submissions from people outside
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   142) the United States too.</p>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   143) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   144) <p>EFF is actively seeking Tor server operators willing to stand up
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   145) and help set a clear legal precedent establishing that merely running
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   146) a node does not create copyright liability for either node operators
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   147) or their bandwidth providers. If you want to be the EFF's test case,
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   148) <a href="http://archives.seul.org/or/talk/Oct-2005/msg00208.html">read
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   149) more here</a>.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   150) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   151) <a id="ExitSnooping"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   152) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#ExitSnooping">Should I snoop on the plaintext
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   153) that exits through my Tor server?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   154) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   155) <p><strong>No.</strong> You are technically capable of monitoring or

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   156) logging plaintext that exits your node if you modify the Tor source

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   157) code or install additional software to enable such snooping.  However,
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   158) Tor server operators in the U.S. can create legal and possibly even
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   159) criminal liability for themselves under state or federal wiretap laws if

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   160) they affirmatively monitor, log, or disclose Tor users'

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   161) communications, while non-U.S. operators may be subject to similar laws.

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   162) Do not examine the contents of anyone's communications without

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   163) first talking to a lawyer.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   164) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   165) <a id="DirectoryWarranty"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   166) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#DirectoryWarranty">Do Tor's core developers
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   167) make any promises about the trustworthiness or reliability of Tor servers
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   168) that are listed in their directory?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   169) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   170) <p><strong>No.</strong> Although the developers attempt to verify that
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   171) Tor servers listed in the directory the core developers maintain are
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   172) stable and have adequate bandwidth, neither they nor EFF can guarantee
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   173) the personal trustworthiness or reliability of the individuals who run

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   174) those servers.  Tor's core developers further reserve the right to
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   175) refuse a Tor server operator's request to be listed in their

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   176) directory or to remove any server from their directory for any
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   177) reason.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   178) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   179) <a id="License"></a>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   180) <h3><a class="anchor" href="#License">Is the Tor software subject to
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   181) any license terms?</a></h3>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   182) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   183) <p><strong>Yes.</strong> The Tor license is included in the software
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   184) download and reproduced below:</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   185) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   186) <p>Copyright (c) 2001-2006 Roger Dingledine<br />
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   187) Copyright (c) 2004-2006 Nick Mathewson</p>

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   188) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   189) <p>Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   190) modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   191) met:</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   192) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   193) <ul>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   194) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   195) <li>Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   196) notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.</li>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   197) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   198) <li>Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   199) notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   200) documentation and/or other materials provided with the
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   201) distribution.</li>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   202) 
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   203) <li>Neither the names of the copyright owners nor the names of its
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   204) contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   205) this software without specific prior written permission.</li>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   206) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   207) </ul>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   208) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   209) <p>THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   210) "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING,

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   211) BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   212) FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   213) COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   214) INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   215) NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   216) USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   217) ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   218) (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   219) THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.</p>
eff/tor-legal-faq.html   220) 

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   221) </div><!-- #main -->

eff/tor-legal-faq.html   222)