The Tor Project has launched an urgent initiative seeking 200 new WebTunnel bridges by the end of the year to counter increasing internet censorship, particularly in Russia. The campaign, running through March 2025, aims to strengthen Tor’s network as existing circumvention tools face growing restrictions.
WebTunnel: A New Defense Against Censorship
Introduced in March 2024, WebTunnel technology represents an advanced approach to circumventing censorship by masking Tor traffic as standard HTTPS communications. With 143 bridges currently active, this system utilizes valid SSL/TLS certificates to enhance its effectiveness compared to traditional bridging methods.
Technical Requirements for Volunteers
• Static IPv4 address
• Self-hosted website
• Valid SSL/TLS certificate
• Minimum 1 TB monthly bandwidth
• One-year operational commitment
• Continuous uptime (24/7)
The Russian Challenge
The campaign responds to intensifying censorship in Russia, where authorities are:
• Actively blocking Tor bridges
• Removing circumvention tools from app stores
• Targeting hosting providers
• Implementing aggressive ISP-level restrictions
The Tor Project offers a commemorative t-shirt to volunteers who deploy five or more bridges. Interested operators can participate by following the official guide and contacting [email protected].