Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using any software, services, or websites provided by The Tor Project, Inc. ("Tor Project," "we," "us," or "our"), you ("User," "you," or "your") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms").

If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use our software or services. These Terms apply to all users of Tor software, including Tor Browser, Tor daemon, and related privacy protection tools.

Description of Services

The Tor Project provides free software tools designed to protect user privacy and enable anonymous communication over the internet. Our comprehensive services include:

• Tor Browser: A web browser designed to protect user privacy and enable anonymous browsing
• Tor Network: A decentralized network of volunteer-operated servers for privacy protection
• Tor Daemon: Software for running Tor relays and clients
• Support Services: Documentation, community support, and educational resources
• Website Services: Information and resources hosted on our websites
• Privacy Tools: Additional tools for enhanced digital privacy and security

Service Availability

While we strive to maintain continuous service availability, we do not guarantee uninterrupted access to our services. Network performance may vary based on factors beyond our control, including internet connectivity and volunteer relay availability.

Usage Rights and License

Tor software is distributed under various open source licenses, primarily the 3-clause BSD license. You are granted the following comprehensive rights:

• Use the software for any lawful purpose including anonymous browsing
• Modify the source code according to license terms
• Distribute copies of the software to others
• Create derivative works based on the software
• Commercial use of the software (where permitted by license)

License Compliance

When redistributing Tor software, you must comply with the applicable open source license terms, including preserving copyright notices and disclaimers. Full license details are available in our software distributions.

Your Responsibilities

As a user of Tor software and services, you are responsible for:

• Using the software in compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Respecting the rights and privacy of others
• Not using the software for illegal activities or harmful purposes
• Keeping your software updated for security reasons
• Understanding the limitations and proper use of anonymity tools
• Following proper operational security practices
• Not attempting to deanonymize other users

Legal Compliance

You are solely responsible for ensuring your use of Tor complies with local, national, and international laws. Some jurisdictions may restrict or prohibit the use of anonymity tools, and you must comply with applicable regulations.

Prohibited Uses

You may not use Tor software or services for the following purposes:

• Illegal activities including but not limited to fraud, harassment, or distribution of illegal content
• Violating the rights of others, including intellectual property rights
• Attempting to compromise network security or infrastructure
• Distributing malware, viruses, or other harmful code
• Engaging in activities that could harm the Tor network or its users
• Deanonymization attacks against other users
• Spam, phishing, or other abusive communications
• Any activity that violates applicable laws or regulations

Network Abuse

Users who abuse the Tor network may be subject to technical countermeasures designed to protect other users and the network infrastructure. This includes but is not limited to blocking malicious exit nodes and implementing rate limiting.

Privacy and Data Protection

We are committed to protecting user privacy and maintaining the highest standards of data protection. Our privacy practices include:

• Minimal data collection necessary for service operation
• No logging of user browsing activities or traffic content
• Protection of any collected data using industry-standard security measures
• Transparency about our data practices through our comprehensive privacy policy
• Regular security audits and privacy assessments
• Compliance with applicable privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)

Third-Party Services

When using Tor to access third-party websites or services, those services may have their own privacy policies and terms of use that apply to your interactions with them. We are not responsible for third-party privacy practices.

Disclaimers and Warranties

Tor software and services are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We specifically disclaim:

• Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
• Guarantees of perfect anonymity or security
• Responsibility for third-party content accessed through our software
• Liability for network performance or availability
• Warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of information
• Guarantees of uninterrupted service availability

Network Reliability

The Tor network relies on volunteer-operated relays, and we cannot guarantee consistent performance or availability. Network speed and reliability may vary based on relay availability and internet conditions.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, The Tor Project shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of our software or services.

Our total liability for any claims related to these Terms or our services shall not exceed $100 or the amount you paid to us in the past 12 months, whichever is less.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Tor Project, its directors, officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney fees) arising from:

• Your use of our software or services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any applicable laws or regulations
• Any content you submit or transmit through our services

Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, or government actions.

Termination

These Terms remain in effect until terminated. You may terminate this agreement at any time by discontinuing use of our software and services and uninstalling our software.

We may terminate or suspend your access to our services if you violate these Terms, though the open source nature of our software means you retain rights under the applicable licenses.

Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use our services ceases immediately
• License rights to open source software continue according to the license terms
• Provisions regarding liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution survive termination
• You remain responsible for any obligations incurred before termination

Data Retention

Upon termination, we will retain minimal data only as required by law or for legitimate business purposes, consistent with our privacy policy.

Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our services, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify users of significant changes through:

• Updates on our website with prominent notices
• Notifications in our software (where applicable)
• Announcements to our mailing lists and community channels
• Blog posts for major changes affecting user rights
• Social media announcements for widespread notification

Continued use of our services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new Terms. If you disagree with changes, you should discontinue use of our services.

Version Control

We maintain version history of our Terms and will clearly indicate the effective date of changes. Previous versions may be available upon request for reference purposes.

Governing Law and Contact

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved in the courts of Massachusetts.

Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

• Email: legal@torproject.org
• Mail: The Tor Project, Inc., 7 Temple Street, Suite A, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
• General Support: support@torproject.org
• Security Issues: security@torproject.org

Language and Interpretation

These Terms are written in English. Any translations are provided for convenience only, and the English version controls in case of conflicts.