In a rare event that showcases that Facebook may actually be listening to the concerns of its users, the social media giant has provided a custom Tor link for users who wish to have their internet presence anonymized.
The new move on Facebook’s part to provide a custom Tor link for its users offers users living under restrictive regimes that feature Internet censorship like Iran and China a route online without running the risk of exposing themselves to government retaliation. This provides Facebook with a plethora of potential new users that would otherwise be blocked from accessing the social network.
This is a groundbreaking step for the Tor community, as Facebook is the first site that both possesses a Certificate Authority – a method for the establishment of secure online connections – and to provide a dedicated, direct Tor link.
This is the second move towards privacy that Facebook has introduced recently. Its first foray into more secure and anonymous browsing was implemented earlier to provide users a way to log into third-party apps anonymouslythrough the Facebook site itself.
In the past, Facebook has been strongly criticized for its anti-privacy stance, especially in its abortive attempt to enforce a “real name” policy for its users. The turnaround may be part of a sea change for the company as it responds more closely to the desires and concerns of its millions of users.
This article was originally posted on BetaWired
