While we are usually on the fence when it comes to most new features announced by Twitter, this latest one is rather interesting, as the social media platform has collaborated with the TOR Project to launch a more secure version of the site.
Software engineer, Alec Muffett, confirmed the launch via Twitter this week, also calling it, “possibly the most important and long-awaited tweet that I’ve ever composed.”
Muffett also shared a link with access to the TOR version of Twitter at https://twitter3e4tixl4xyajtrzo62zg5vztmjuricljdp2c5kshju4avyoid.onion, but it will of course only be accessible to those who are running a TOR browser.
It has also been added to the list of supported browsers by Twitter.
This is possibly the most important and long-awaited tweet that I've ever composed.
On behalf of @Twitter, I am delighted to announce their new @TorProject onion service, at:https://t.co/Un8u0AEXeE pic.twitter.com/AgEV4ZZt3k
— Alec Muffett (@AlecMuffett) March 8, 2022
As for why this is such an important step to quote Muffett, while Twitter can often be a hotbed for misinformation, the platform can also prove a vital tool for reporting or sharing sensitive information. The addition of a more secure TOR version of the site means content can be shared with a greater degree of privacy.
As The Verge correctly points out, there are of course outliers when it comes to application of TOR technology, namely for the “Dark Web”, but the vast majority of its applications are to ensure that content can be shared in as secure a manner as possible.
“It’s a commitment from the platform to dealing with people who use Tor in an equitable fashion. Setting up an onion address is a practical step which demonstrates that the platform is providing explicitly for the needs of people who use Tor,” Muffet told the publication.
For journalists, media and researchers in particular, adding this functionality could indeed be an important step, especially when it comes to reporting on events that are sensitive in nature or carry some degree of danger.
Whether the general Twitter user will be interested in such a feature remains to be seen, but this niche addition is welcome nonetheless.
