In 2023, INHOPE launched a module on 'Tor and Onion Sites' funded by the EU through the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme. The module was created to allow analysts to explore the complexities of this hidden digital landscape.
 

Tor is a specialised browser and network that enables anonymous internet access by using onion routing, a system of layered encryption that directs user traffic through a series of nodes, hiding IP addresses. Onion sites, also known as hidden services, are websites hosted on the dark web and accessible only through the Tor network. These sites have domain names ending in “.onion” and provide a level of anonymity for both users and the hosted content.

Hotline analysts processing reports, often receive material with “.onion” URLs which lead to websites on the dark web. Those might be completely anonymous on the website making it hard for analysts to track down the creators of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The “Tor and Onion Sites” module is now an integral component of the “INHOPE Certified Analyst” training program and it is offered on the INHOPE Online Training Platform. The module was created as a guiding light to explore the complexities of this hidden digital landscape. Participants are offered a deep dive into the Tor and the dark web history as well as its technical parts. They are walked through the practical steps of installing and utilising a Tor browser, and equipped with proxy sites, java scripts, and the sophisticated Atlas Voyager system - essential for informed and safe exploration. Analysts can also learn to discover the presence of dark web content on the open web. They are empowered with the skills to report such findings via ICCAM to law enforcement agencies and internet service providers.


For more information on the module and how to access it, please contact suzanne.wissenburg@inhope.org.